Intergenerational Socioeconomic Mobility and Cardiovascular Health Among Hispanic/Latino Youth and Caregivers Living in the United States

Background Little is known about the effects of socioeconomic mobility on cardiovascular health (CVH) across the generations. We evaluated the association between caregiver intergenerational socioeconomic mobility and caregivers’ and youth’s CVH. We also explored whether the association was modified by the youth’s sex and age. Methods We used data from the HCHS/SOL (Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos) (2008–2011) and its ancillary study SOL Youth (Hispanic Community Children’s Health Study/Study of Latino Youth) (2012–2014). Socioeconomic mobility was assessed using the grandparents’ and caregivers’ socioeconomic position (SEP) and was classified as stable low, downward, upward, and stable high groups. CVH was assessed based on the American Heart Association Life’s Essential 8. Survey linear regression models were used to investigate the association between socioeconomic mobility and caregivers’ and youth’s CVH, adjusting for age, sex, place of birth, Hispanic/Latino background, and field center. Results Caregivers with lower CVH scores were observed in stable low (β=−3.91 95% CI, −7.33 to −0.49) and downward (β=−4.85 95% CI, −9.61 to −0.09) SEP groups compared with those in the stable high group. Caregivers with lower body mass index scores were observed in the stable low (β=−7.87 95% CI, −15.31 to −0.43) versus stable high SEP group. We found a lower total CVH (β=−3.00 95% CI, −5.24 to −0.75) score in youth whose caregivers were in the stable low SEP group versus those whose caregivers were in the stable high SEP group, and this result was modified by the youth’s sex and age. Conclusion Among Hispanic/Latino youth and their caregivers, stable low SEP was associated with worse CVH versus stable high SEP.