TABLE 1—
Characteristics, Health Behaviors, and Health Outcomes for Arab Americans Stratified by Immigrant Generation Identified Through the California Health Interview Survey: 2003–2017
| Variable | First Generation: Respondent Born in Arabic-Speaking Country (n = 923), No. (Survey-Weighted %) | Second Generation: Parent Born in Arabic-Speaking Country (n = 413), No. (Survey-Weighted %) | Third+ Generation: Arabic Language at Home (n = 89), No. (Survey-Weighted %) | Arabic Language or Heritage (n = 1425), No. (Survey-Weighted %) |
| Survey year | ||||
| 2003–2007 | 419 (39.2) | 153 (31.8) | 55 (69.2) | 627 (38.6) |
| 2008–2012 | 264 (29.3) | 117 (24.6) | 22 (15.1) | 403 (27.0) |
| 2013–2017 | 240 (31.5) | 143 (43.6) | 12 (15.7) | 395 (34.4) |
| Demographic | ||||
| Male | 489 (60.3) | 172 (44.4) | 39 (63.7) | 700 (55.6) |
| Age, y | ||||
| 18–29 | 134 (22.6) | 138 (56.7) | 12 (15.2) | 284 (32.7) |
| 30–49 | 346 (46.3) | 118 (28.3) | 38 (58.4) | 502 (41.5) |
| ≥ 50 | 443 (31.1) | 157 (15.0) | 39 (26.4) | 639 (25.8) |
| Married | 596 (60.9) | 181 (34.8) | 41 (45.9) | 818 (52.0) |
| Socioeconomic status | ||||
| Unemployed | 360 (27.5) | 166 (25.5) | 32 (30.9) | 558 (27.1) |
| High school or less | 206 (24.1) | 117 (29.4) | 18 (21.0) | 341 (25.5) |
| 0%–99% FPL | 153 (17.5) | 31 (5.6) | 16 (15.5) | 200 (13.7) |
| Own home | 551 (54.7) | 272 (66.7) | 41 (36.0) | 864 (57.3) |
| Uninsured in past y | 129 (25.8) | 53 (21.4) | 14 (15.8) | 196 (23.9) |
| Health behaviors and risk factors | ||||
| Influenza vaccine in past y | 271 (30.7) | 118 (27.3) | 26 (37.3) | 415 (30.3) |
| Drinking ≥ 5 sodas per wk | 75 (15.4) | 33 (8.6) | 9 (13.9) | 117 (13.3) |
| Never smoker | 582 (63.1) | 251 (61.8) | 48 (64.7) | 881 (62.8) |
| Alcohol in past y | 308 (54.7) | 179 (67.9) | 30 (38.2) | 517 (59.4) |
| Binge drinking in past y | 50 (12.3) | 56 (31.3) | 4 (6.2) | 110 (17.7) |
| ≥ 2 sexual partners in past y | 54 (9.7) | 40 (17.1) | 9 (11.8) | 103 (12.1) |
| Ever thought to commit suicide | 28 (5.0) | 25 (8.8) | 6 (11.8) | 59 (6.5) |
| Health outcomes | ||||
| Poor or fair health | 135 (12.3) | 47 (10.9) | 16 (15.2) | 198 (12.0) |
| Diabetes | 110 (8.4) | 32 (7.3) | 13 (12.4) | 155 (8.3) |
| High blood pressure | 235 (18.5) | 95 (10.9) | 28 (18.9) | 358 (16.2) |
| Heart disease | 76 (4.7) | 34 (3.5) | 6 (1.0) | 116 (4.1) |
| Overweight or obese | 581 (57.8) | 208 (44.5) | 57 (77.2) | 846 (54.8) |
Note. FPL = 2012 Census federal poverty level.