Author
Abstract

<p><strong>OBJECTIVES: </strong>The objective of this study was to examine the association between volunteerism and favorable cardiovascular health (CVH) among Hispanics/Latinos living in the US.</p><p><strong>METHODS: </strong>Data from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (2008-2011) Sociocultural Ancillary Study were used (N = 4,926; ages 18-74 years). Favorable CVH was defined as positive profiles of all major CVD risk factors: low total serum cholesterol, blood pressure, and body mass index; not having diabetes; and not smoking. Survey-weighted logistic regression models were adjusted for sociodemographic, lifestyle, and psychological factors. In secondary analyses, we tested whether the volunteerism-CVH association was modified by sex, age, or years lived in the US (&lt;10 vs. ≥10 years; a proxy acculturation measure).</p><p><strong>RESULTS: </strong>Prevalence of volunteerism was 14.5%. Compared to non-volunteers, volunteers had 1.67 higher odds of favorable CVH in the fully-adjusted model (Odds Ratio [OR] = 1.67, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] = 1.11, 2.52). There was evidence of effect modification by acculturation; only volunteers who had lived in the US ≥10 years had 2.41 higher odds of favorable CVH (OR = 2.41, 95% CI=1.53, 3.80). There was no evidence of effect modification by sex or age.</p><p><strong>CONCLUSIONS: </strong>Volunteerism was associated with favorable CVH among US Hispanics/Latinos.</p>

Year of Publication
2020
Journal
Health Behav Policy Rev
Volume
7
Issue
2
Number of Pages
120-135
Date Published
2020 Mar
ISSN Number
2326-4403
DOI
10.14485/HBPR.7.2.5
Alternate Journal
Health Behav Policy Rev
PMID
33575402
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