Maternal familism predicts birthweight and asthma symptoms three years later

► Forward-thinking in integrating diverse literature on culture, health disparities, and the links between birthweight and childhood asthma. ► Measuring a specific aspect of culture, familism, pushes the operational definition of culture beyond ethnicity and socioeconomic status. ► Considers the unique and combined impact of culture, ethnicity, and family socioeconomic position on birthweight and childhood asthma symptoms. ► Familism predicts birthweight and the development of asthma symptoms by age three independently of ethnicity and family socioeconomic position. ► Offers novel insights into the severe health disparities faced by African American, Latino, and poor families.