Silesians in Texas and Upper Silesia: anthropometric, functional and physical activity characteristics

Authors

  • Krystyna Rożek-Piechura Faculty of Physiotherapy, University School of Physical Education, Wrocław, Poland
  • Zofia Ignasiak Faculty of Physical Education, University School of Physical Education, Wroclaw, Poland
  • Monika Kurzaj Faculty of Physiotherapy, University School of Physical Education, Wrocław, Poland
  • Teresa Sławinska Faculty of Physical Education, University School of Physical Education, Wroclaw, Poland
  • Anna Skrzek Faculty of Physiotherapy, University School of Physical Education, Wrocław, Poland
  • Sławomir Kozieł Department of Anthropology, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland
  • Robert M. Malina Professor Emeritus, Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2478/anre-2020-0018

Keywords:

aging, functional fitness, physical activity, weight status, respiratory function

Abstract

Anthropometric, functional and physical activity characteristics of contemporary adult descendants of Upper Silesian immigrants to Texas in the mid-19th century and current residents in Upper Silesia were compared. The sample included 45 residents in Central Texas, 25 women and 20 men, and 36 residents in rural Upper Silesia, 24 women and 12 men, 54-76 years of age. Variables included selected demographic characteristics, anthropometry, estimated body composition, several physiological indicators, strength and functional fitness, and physical activity. Sex-specific MANCOVA and Chi square were used for comparisons. Descendants of Silesian immigrants to Texas were taller, on average, while differences in other anthropometric variables were variable. All residents in Silesia and the majority of descendants of Silesian migrants to Texas were overweight or obese. Differences in hemodynamic and respiratory functions and responses to a 6-minute walk were inconsistent, while none of the fitness variables differed significantly between the samples. Although residents in Upper Silesia were significantly more physically active descendants of Silesians in Texas, >80% of the men and women in both samples scored below the criterion-reference standard for the maintenance of physical independence in the 6-minute walk.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Akbulut-Yuksela M, Kuglerb AD. 2016. Inter-generational persistence of health: Do immigrants get healthier as they remain in the U.S. for more generations? Econ Hum Biol 23:136–48.
View in Google Scholar

Baker E, Rendal M, Weden M. 2015. Epidemiological paradox or immigrant vulnerability? Obesity among young children of immigrants. Demography 52(4):1295–320.
View in Google Scholar

Baker TL. 1979. The First Polish Americans: Silesian Settlements in Texas. College Station, TX, Texas A&M University Press.
View in Google Scholar

Baker TL. 1982. The Polish Texans. San Antonio, TX. University of Texas Institute of Texan Cultures.
View in Google Scholar

Baker TL. 1975. The Early History of Panna Maria, Texas. Lubbock, TX: Texas Tech Press.
View in Google Scholar

Bentham G. 1988. Migration and mobility: implications for geographical studies of disease. Soc Sci Med 26:49–54.
View in Google Scholar

Biernat E, Stupnicki R, Gajewski AK. 2007. International physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ) – Polish version. Wychowanie Fizyczne i Sport 51(1):47–54.
View in Google Scholar

Boas F. 1911. Changes in the bodily form of descendants of immigrants. United States Immigration Commission, 61st Congress, Senate Document no. 208. Washington, DC. Government Printing Office.
View in Google Scholar

Boas F. 1912. Changes in bodily form of descendants of immigrants. Am. Anthropol. N.S. 14:530–62.
View in Google Scholar

Brożek A. 1972. Ślązacy w Teksasie: Relacje o najstarszych osadach polskich w Ameryce. Warszawa: Państwowe Wydawnictwo Naukowe.
View in Google Scholar

Chetty R, Hendren N, Kline P, Saez E. 2014. Where is the land of opportunity? The geography of intergenerational mobility in the United States. Q. J. Econ. 129(4):1553–623.
View in Google Scholar

Corak M. 2004. Generational Income Mobility in North America and Europe. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
View in Google Scholar

Currie J, Madrian B. 1999. Health, health insurance and the labor market. In: Ashen-felter O, Card D (Eds.), Handbook of Labor Economics, Vol. 3. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp. 309–415.
View in Google Scholar

Dawson Ebrom J, Beard Warren J, Beard Korus K, Lynn Highley Ch, Moczygemba Watson MA. 2004. Ślązacy Teksańczycy Emigracja ze Śląska do Teksasu w latach 1852–1859. Opole: Wydawnictwo Świętego Krzyża.
View in Google Scholar

Deverteuil G, Hinds A, Lix L, Walker J, Robinson R, Roos LL. 2007. Mental health and the city: Intra-urban mobility among individuals with schizophrenia. Health Place 13:310–23.
View in Google Scholar

Dworaczyk E. 1936. The First Polish Colonies of Americans in Texas; Containing also the General History of the Polish People in Texas. San Antonio: The Naylor Co. (reprinted 1979).
View in Google Scholar

Ferrie, J. 2005. The end of American exceptionalism? Mobility in the United States since 1850. J. Econ. Perspect. 19(3):199–215.
View in Google Scholar

Goldstein MS. 1943. Demographic and bodily changes in descendants of Mexican immigrants, with comparable data on parents and children in Mexico. Institute of Latin American Studies, University of Texas, Austin
View in Google Scholar

Heller RF, McElduff P, Edwards R. 2002. Impact of upward social mobility on population mortality: Analysis with routine data. Br Med J 325:134–37.
View in Google Scholar

Hulse FS. 1969. Migration and cultural selection in human genetics. In: PC Biswas, Managing editor, The Anthropologist (Special Volume). Department of Anthropology, University of Delhi, India, pp 1–21.
View in Google Scholar

Ignasiak Z, Sławińska T, Skrzek A, Rożek K, Kozieł S, Malina RM, Posłuszny P. 2017. Functional capacities of Polish adults of 60–87 years and risk of losing functional independence. Ann Hum Biol 44(6):502–9.
View in Google Scholar

Illsley GW, Finlayson A, Thompson B. 1963. The motivation and characteristics of internal migrants. Milbank Mem Fund Q 41:217–48.
View in Google Scholar

Jones CJ, Rikli RE. 2002. Measuring functional fitness in older adults. J Active Aging, pp 25–30.
View in Google Scholar

Kruger J, Carlson SA, Buchner D. 2007. How active are older Americans? Prev Chronic Dis 4(3):A53.
View in Google Scholar

Lanfear AK. 2012. Records of the Institut fuer Deutsche Ostarbeit (1940–1943): Using anthropometrics of Polish populations to examine secular trends and region specific variation. Doctoral dissertation, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN.
View in Google Scholar

Lasker GW. 1952. Environmental growth factors and selective migration. Hum Biol 24:262–89.
View in Google Scholar

Lasker GW. 1954. The question of physical selection of Mexican migrants to the U.S.A. Hum Biol 26:52–8.
View in Google Scholar

Little BB, Malina RM. 1989. Genetic drift and natural selection in an isolated Zapotec-speaking community in the Valley of Oaxaca, southern Mexico. Hum Hered 39:99–106.
View in Google Scholar

Malina RM, Buschang PH, Aronson WL, Selby HA.1982. Childhood growth status of eventual migrants and sedentes in a rural Zapotec community in the Valley of Oaxaca, Mexico. Hum Biol 54:709–16.
View in Google Scholar

Marshall B, Chevalier A, Garillon C, Goldberg M, Coing F. 1999. Socioeconomic status, social mobility and cancer occurrence during working life: a case-control study among French electricity and gas workers. Cancer Causes Control 10:495–502.
View in Google Scholar

Miller MR, Hankinson J, Brusasco V, Burgos F, Casaburi R, Coates A, et al. 2005. ‘‘ATS/ERS Task Force: Standardisation of lung function testing’’ Eur Respir J, Series 26:319–38.
View in Google Scholar

Moorin RE, Holman CDJ, Garfield C, Brameld KJ. 2006. Health related migration: evidence of reduced ‘‘urban-drift’’. Health Place 12:131–40.
View in Google Scholar

Potter LB, Kresnow MJ, Powell KE, Simon TR, Mercy JA, Lee RK, et al. 2001. The influence of geographic mobility on nearly lethal suicide attempts. Suicide Life Threat Behav 32(1 Suppl):42–48.
View in Google Scholar

Przygoda J. 1971. Texas Pioneers from Poland: A Study in the Ethnic History. Waco, TX: Library Binding Company.
View in Google Scholar

Quanjer PH, Tammeling GJ, Cotes JE, Pedersen OF, Peslin R, Yernault J-C. 1993. Lung volume and forced ventilatory flows. Report Working Party, Standardization of Lung Function Tests, European Community for Steel and Coal. Official Statement of the European Respiratory Society. Eur Respir J 6(16):5–40.
View in Google Scholar

Rikli RE, Jones CJ. 2001. Senior Fitness Test Manual. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
View in Google Scholar

Rikli RE, Jones CJ. 2012. Development and validation of criterion referenced clinically relevant fitness standards for maintaining physical independence in later years. The Gerontologist 53(2):255–267.
View in Google Scholar

Rosiński B. 1934a. Emigracje Europejskie do Stanów Zjednoczonych pod względem antropologicznym. Archiwum Towarzystwa Naukowego we Lwowie, Dział III, Tom 6, Zeszyt 12.
View in Google Scholar

Rosiński B. 1934b. The American people of Polish origin in Texas. In A Decade of Progress in Eugenics: Scientific Papers of the Third International Congress of Eugenics. Baltimore, MD, Williams and Wilkins Company, pp 113–8.
View in Google Scholar

Rosiński B. 1934c. Emigracje Europejskie do Stanów Zjedn. Ameryki Północnej. Przegląd Antropologiczny 10:42–4.
View in Google Scholar

Scottish Council for Research in Education. 1953. Social implications of the 1947 Scottish Mental Survey. London: University of London Press.
View in Google Scholar

Shapiro HL. 1939. Migration and environment. London: Oxford University Press.
View in Google Scholar

Solon G. 1992. Intergenerational income mobility in the United States. Am Econ Rev 82(3):393–408.
View in Google Scholar

Spuhler JN. 1976. The maximum opportunity for natural selection in some human populations. In EBW Zubrow, editor, Demographic Anthropology: Quantitative Approaches. Albuquerque, University of New Mexico Press, pp 185–226.
View in Google Scholar

Szklarska A, Lipowicz A, Łopuszańska M, Jankowska EA, Bielicki T, Koziel S. 2008. Biological condition of adult migrants and non-migrants in Wrocław, Poland. Am J Hum Biol. 20(2):139–45.
View in Google Scholar

US Department of Health and Human Services 2010. Healthy People 2010. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/healthy_people/hp2010.htm
View in Google Scholar

Yuksel M. 2007. Intergenerational mobility of immigrants in Germany: Moving with natives or stuck in their neighborhoods? IZA Working Paper No. 4677.
View in Google Scholar

Zimmerman D. 1992. Regression toward mediocrity in economic stature. Am Econ Rev 82(3):409–29.
View in Google Scholar

Downloads

Published

2020-09-30

How to Cite

Rożek-Piechura, K., Ignasiak, Z., Kurzaj, M., Sławinska, T., Skrzek, A., Kozieł, S., & Malina, R. M. (2020). Silesians in Texas and Upper Silesia: anthropometric, functional and physical activity characteristics. Anthropological Review, 83(3), 261–277. https://doi.org/10.2478/anre-2020-0018

Issue

Section

Articles

Most read articles by the same author(s)

<< < 1 2 3 4 > >> 

Similar Articles

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.