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Read JG. Does an Immigrant Health Advantage Exist Among US Whites? Evidence from a Nationally-Representative Examination of Mental and Physical Well-Being. J Immigr Minor Health 2024; 26:878-886. [PMID: 38825664 PMCID: PMC11412786 DOI: 10.1007/s10903-024-01607-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
This study examines whether an immigrant health advantage exists among US Whites, a group often used as a reference category in research on racial and ethnic health disparities. Using recent data from the National Health Interview Survey (2019-2022), I disaggregate non-Hispanic White adults (n = 41,752) by nativity status and use logistic regression models to assess differences in six measures of mental and physical health. The analysis includes self-reported conditions (depression, anxiety, fair/poor self-rated health) and diagnosed conditions that require interaction with the healthcare system (hypertension, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD). Foreign-born Whites have a significantly lower prevalence of each health outcome relative to US-born Whites. The immigrant health advantage remains significant for depression, anxiety, fair/poor health (i.e., self-reported conditions) and diagnosed hypertension, after adjusting for sociodemographic and healthcare characteristics. In contrast, the inclusion of these explanatory factors reduces the nativity gap in diagnosed diabetes and COPD to non-significance. Overall, the results indicate important variation in health among Whites that is missed in studies that focus on US-born Whites, alone. Scholars must continue to monitor the health of White immigrants, who are projected to grow to 20% of the US immigrant population in the years to come.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jen'nan G Read
- Department of Sociology, Duke University, 417 Chapel Drive, Durham, NC, 27708, USA.
- Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA.
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Furuya S, Liu J, Sun Z, Lu Q, Fletcher JM. Understanding Internal Migration: A Research Note Providing an Assessment of Migration Selection With Genetic Data. Demography 2023; 60:1631-1648. [PMID: 37937916 DOI: 10.1215/00703370-11053145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
Migration is selective, resulting in inequalities between migrants and nonmigrants. However, investigating migration selection is empirically challenging because combined pre- and post-migration data are rarely available. We propose an alternative approach to assessing internal migration selection by integrating genetic data, enabling an investigation of migration selection with cross-sectional data collected post-migration. Using data from the UK Biobank, we utilized standard tools from statistical genetics to conduct a genome-wide association study (GWAS) for migration distance. We then calculated genetic correlations to compare GWAS results for migration with those for other characteristics. Given that individual genetics are determined at conception, these analyses allow a unique exploration of the association between pre-migration characteristics and migration. Results are generally consistent with the healthy migrant literature: genetics correlated with longer migration distance are associated with higher socioeconomic status and better health. We also extended the analysis to 53 traits and found novel correlations between migration and several physical health, mental health, personality, and sociodemographic traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiro Furuya
- Department of Sociology, Center for Demography of Health and Aging, and Center for Demography and Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Jihua Liu
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Zhongxuan Sun
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Qiongshi Lu
- Center for Demography of Health and Aging, Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, and Department of Statistics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Jason M Fletcher
- Center for Demography of Health and Aging, Center for Demography and Ecology, La Follette School of Public Affairs, Department of Population Health Science, and Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
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Huang G, Guo F, Cheng Z, Liu L, Zimmermann KF, Taksa L, Tani M, Franklin M. Nativity in the healthy migrant effect: Evidence from Australia. SSM Popul Health 2023; 23:101457. [PMID: 37456617 PMCID: PMC10338376 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2023.101457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Migrant health constitutes an important public health issue; however, variations in the 'healthy migrant effect' among migrants of different nativity are not adequately understood. To fill this gap, this study examines the life expectancy (LE) and healthy life expectancy (HLE) of the Australian-born population and eight major migrant groups in Australia for 2006, 2011 and 2016. The results show that compared with the Australian-born population, the foreign-born population overall had a higher LE and HLE but a lower HLE/LE ratio. Considerable variations in migrant health status according to nativity were also observed. Specifically, migrants from South Africa, Britain and Germany exhibited a similar or higher LE, HLE and HLE/LE ratio, while those from China, India, Italy and Greece had a higher LE but a significantly lower HLE/LE ratio compared with the Australian-born population. Lebanese migrants were the only group who experienced an unchanging LE and a declining HLE from 2006 to 2016. These notable differences in migrants' health outcomes with respect to nativity may be explained by the sociocultural differences between the origin and host countries and the different extents of migration selectivity of different migrant groups. Targeted countermeasures such as improving the quality of life of migrants from culturally diverse backgrounds or with negative migration experiences are suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guogui Huang
- Centre for Health Systems and Safety Research, Macquarie University, Australia
| | - Fei Guo
- Department of Management, Macquarie Business School, Macquarie University, Australia
| | - Zhiming Cheng
- Department of Management, Macquarie Business School, Macquarie University, Australia
- Social Policy Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Australia
| | - Lihua Liu
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, USA
| | - Klaus F. Zimmermann
- Global Labor Organization (GLO), Germany
- UNU-MERIT, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Lucy Taksa
- Deakin University Business School, Deakin University, Australia
| | | | - Marika Franklin
- Deakin University Business School, Deakin University, Australia
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Nkimbeng M, Nmezi NA, Baker ZG, Taylor JL, Commodore-Mensah Y, Shippee TP, Szanton SL, Gaugler JE. Depressive Symptoms in Older African Immigrants with Mobility Limitations: A Descriptive Study. Clin Gerontol 2023; 46:14-26. [PMID: 34528489 PMCID: PMC9283084 DOI: 10.1080/07317115.2021.1976893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Before, during, and after their immigration to the United States, immigrants face stressful life circumstances that may render them at risk for depressive symptoms. However, there is a dearth of research on the mental health of African immigrants. We performed secondary data analyses of two studies in the Baltimore-Washington area to describe and identify correlates of depressive symptoms in older African immigrants. METHODS Chi square tests, one-way ANOVAs, and linear regressions were used to describe and examine associations between depressive symptoms and immigrant-related risk factors. RESULTS This sample included 148 participants who had a mean age of 62 (SD ± 8.2). Clinical depressive symptoms were present in 8.1% of participants, and trouble falling asleep for more than half of the days was the most prevalent symptom (20%). Levels of education, income, and migration reasons differed significantly from clinical depressive symptoms, but these were not significantly associated with more depressive symptoms after controlling for covariates. CONCLUSIONS Longitudinal designs may further elucidate incidence, correlates, and long-term effects of depressive symptoms within this population. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS Knowledge of depressive symptom burden and risk factors can inform timely assessment, referral, and treatment of depressive symptoms and other mental health outcomes in older African immigrants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manka Nkimbeng
- Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Division of Rehabilitation Psychology and Neuropsychology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Nwakaego A Nmezi
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Division of Rehabilitation Psychology and Neuropsychology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Zachary G Baker
- Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | | | | | - Tetyana P Shippee
- Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | | | - Joseph E Gaugler
- Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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Chang R, Li C, Qi H, Zhang Y, Zhang J. Birth and Health Outcomes of Children Migrating With Parents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Front Pediatr 2022; 10:810150. [PMID: 35911841 PMCID: PMC9326113 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2022.810150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To examine the birth and health outcomes of children migrating with parents internationally and domestically, and to identify whether the healthy migration effect exist in migrant children. Methods Five electronic databases were searched for cross-sectional, case-control, or cohort studies published from January 1, 2000 to January 30, 2021and written by English language, reporting the risk of health outcomes of migrant children (e.g., birth outcome, nutrition, physical health, mental health, death, and substance use) We excluded studies in which participants' age more than 18 years, or participants were forced migration due to armed conflict or disasters, or when the comparators were not native-born residents. Pooled odd ratio (OR) was calculated using random-effects models. Results Our research identified 10,404 records, of which 98 studies were retrained for analysis. The majority of the included studies (89, 91%) focused on international migration and 9 (9%) on migration within country. Compared with native children, migrant children had increased risks of malnutrition [OR 1.26 (95% CI 1.11-1.44)], poor physical health [OR 1.34 (95% CI 1.11-1.61)], mental disorder [OR 1.24 (95% CI 1.00-1.52)], and death [OR 1.11 (95% CI 1.01-1.21)], while had a lower risk of adverse birth outcome [OR 0.92 (95% CI 0.87-0.97)]. The difference of substance use risk was not found between the two groups. Conclusion Migrant children had increased risk of adverse health outcomes. No obvious evidence was observed regarding healthy migration effect among migrant children. Actions are required to address the health inequity among these populations. Systematic Review Registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/#myprospero, identifier: CRD42021214115.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Jianduan Zhang
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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Kostareva U, Albright CL, Berens EM, Klinger J, Ivanov LL, Guttersrud Ø, Liu M, Sentell TL. Health literacy in former Soviet Union immigrants in the US: A mixed methods study. Appl Nurs Res 2022; 67:151598. [DOI: 10.1016/j.apnr.2022.151598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Choi D, Narayan KMV, Patel SA. Disparities in diabetes between US-born and foreign-born population: using three diabetes indicators. BIODEMOGRAPHY AND SOCIAL BIOLOGY 2022; 67:16-27. [PMID: 35466846 PMCID: PMC9039242 DOI: 10.1080/19485565.2021.2016368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
We investigated disparities in diabetes between the US-born and foreign-born populations using three diabetes measures: diagnosed diabetes, undiagnosed diabetes, and total diabetes, either diagnosed or undiagnosed diabetes. We analyzed adults aged 30-84 years drawn from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009-2018 (n = 21,390). Of cohorts in 2009-2018, foreign-born adults had significantly higher age-standardized prevalence of diagnosed (12.6% vs. 10.6%) and undiagnosed diabetes (4.5% vs. 2.6%), and total diabetes (17.1% vs. 13.2%) than US-born adults. Results from logistic and multinomial regressions adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, limited access to healthcare and BMI showed that the foreign-born had significantly higher odds of total diabetes (OR: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.04-1.50) and undiagnosed diabetes (OR: 1.83, 95% CI: 1.44-2.32) compared to the US-born. There was no significant difference in diagnosed diabetes by nativity (OR: 1.12, 95% CI: 0.96-1.53). Our results show that foreign-born adults were at higher risk of diabetes than US-born adults, and the difference by nativity was largely attributable to BMI and racial/ethnic composition. In addition, we demonstrated the importance of choosing measures of diabetes in studying diabetes mainly due to the foreign-born group's high prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes, which biases the prevalence of diabetes downward when diagnosed diabetes is used.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daesung Choi
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - K M Venkat Narayan
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Shivani A Patel
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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Amburg P, Lindgren T, Ivanov LL. Traditional health-related practices of Russian-speaking immigrants. Public Health Nurs 2021; 39:372-380. [PMID: 34492125 DOI: 10.1111/phn.12966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The population of foreign-born residents continues to grow in the United States. One of the largest growing groups of immigrants is the population of Russian-speakers moving from the countries of the former Union of Soviet Socialistic Republics (Soviet Union/USSR). Like many other immigrants, Russian speakers present with various health concerns. Empirical literature indicates a gap in research that addresses culturally based beliefs and behaviors related to health in this group of immigrants. A qualitative ethnographic study that addresses the health-related practices of Russian-speaking immigrants was conducted on the East Coast of the United States. Twenty-eight participants, ages 36-86, were interviewed, along with participant observation and analysis of documents. Data analysis revealed three related categories: perception of health, perception of illness, and health-related practices. Perceptions of health were influenced by families and defined roles within the family. Perceptions of illness were outlined by approaches to disease management and remedies to illness. Subsequently, the health-related practices of Russian-speaking immigrants were molded by perceptions of health and illness. Further research is recommended to examine specific health-related practices of Russian-speaking immigrants in the United States and to explore more diverse groups within this aggregate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Polina Amburg
- The Marjorie K. Unterberg School of Nursing and Health Studies, Monmouth University, Long Branch, New Jersey
| | - Teri Lindgren
- Community Health Systems School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Luba Louise Ivanov
- College of Nursing, Chamberlain College of Nursing, Downers Grove, Illinois
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Östergren O, Korhonen K, Gustafsson NK, Martikainen P. Home and away: mortality among Finnish-born migrants in Sweden compared to native Swedes and Finns residing in Finland. Eur J Public Health 2021; 31:321-325. [PMID: 33230544 PMCID: PMC8071591 DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckaa192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Most first-generation migrants have lower mortality compared to the native population. Finnish-born migrants in Sweden instead have higher mortality; possibly because of health behaviours established before migration. To increase our understanding of this excess mortality, we compared the cause-specific mortality of Finnish migrants in Sweden to both the native population of Sweden and the native Finnish population residing in Finland. Methods We used Swedish and Finnish register data, applying propensity score matching techniques to account for differences in sociodemographic characteristics between the migrants, Swedes and Finns. The index population were Finnish migrants aged 40–60, residing in Sweden in 1995. We compared patterns of all-cause, alcohol- and smoking-related, and cardiovascular disease mortality across the groups in the period 1996–2007. Results Finnish migrant men in Sweden had lower all-cause mortality compared to Finnish men but higher mortality compared to the Swedish men. The same patterns were observed for alcohol-related, smoking-related and cardiovascular disease mortality. Among women, all three groups had similar levels of all-cause mortality. However, Finnish migrant women had higher alcohol-related mortality than Swedish women, similar to Finnish women. Conversely, migrant women had similar levels of smoking-related mortality to Swedish women, lower than Finnish women. Conclusions Finnish-born migrants residing in Sweden have mortality patterns that are typically in between the mortality patterns of the native populations in their country of origin and destination. Both the country of origin and destination need to be considered in order to better understand migrant health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olof Östergren
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.,Aging Research Center, Karolinska Institutet & Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kaarina Korhonen
- Population Research Unit, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Pekka Martikainen
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.,Population Research Unit, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,The Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany
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Does Immigrant Selection Policy Matter? Labor Market Integration of Ethiopian Immigrants in Israel and the United States. POPULATION RESEARCH AND POLICY REVIEW 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s11113-021-09653-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Read JG, Lynch SM, West JS. Disaggregating Heterogeneity among Non-Hispanic Whites: Evidence and Implications for U.S. Racial/Ethnic Health Disparities. POPULATION RESEARCH AND POLICY REVIEW 2021; 40:9-31. [PMID: 34898768 PMCID: PMC8653968 DOI: 10.1007/s11113-020-09632-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Research has made strides in disaggregating health data among racial/ethnic minorities, but less is known about the extent of diversity among Whites. Using logistic regression modeling applied to data on respondents aged 40+ from the 2008 to 2016 American Community Survey, we disaggregated the non-Hispanic White population by ancestry and other racial/ethnic groups (non-Hispanic Black, non-Hispanic Asian, and Hispanic) by common subgroupings and examined heterogeneity in disability. Using logistic regression models predicting six health outcome measures, we compared the spread of coefficients for each of the large racial/ethnic groups and all subgroupings within these large categories. The results revealed that health disparities within the White population are almost as large as disparities within other racial groups. In fact, when Whites were disaggregated by ancestry, mean health appeared to be more varied among Whites than between Whites and members of other racial/ethnic groups in many cases. Compositional changes in the ancestry of Whites, particularly declines in Whites of western European ancestry and increases in Whites of eastern European and Middle Eastern ancestry, contribute to this diversity. Together, these findings challenge the oft-assumed notion that Whites are a homogeneous group and indicate that the aggregate White category obscures substantial intra-ethnic heterogeneity in health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jen’nan Ghazal Read
- Department of Sociology, Global Health Institute, Duke University, 417 Chapel Drive, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Scott M. Lynch
- Department of Sociology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
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Pinchas-Mizrachi R, Naparstek Y, Nirel R, Kukia E. The "Sick immigrant" and "Healthy immigrant" phenomenon among Jews migrating from the USSR to Israel. SSM Popul Health 2020; 12:100694. [PMID: 33294584 PMCID: PMC7689518 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2020.100694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2020] [Revised: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The “healthy immigrant” phenomenon finds that immigrants are in better health than natives, while the “sick immigrant” phenomenon finds the opposite. We examined this phenomenon using the relationship between immigration and mortality, stratified by income level, among Soviet immigrants to Israel in the 1990s, compared to veteran immigrants with similar ethnic origin. A retrospective cohort study of mortality during 1990–2016 was conducted among 63,847 immigrants born during 1940–1950 in the USSR or Eastern Europe, and who immigrated to Israel during 1990–1995. They were compared to a control group of 75,347 Israeli Jews born during the same period in the same countries or second-generation immigrants with parents from these countries and who immigrated by 1960. After adjusting for sex, age, income, and marital status, we found higher mortality rates among immigrants than non-immigrants for the total study population (adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) = 1.399, 99% confidence intervals (CI) = 1.341, 1.459) and among 19,033 men (AHR = 2.852, 99%CI = 2.619, 3.107) and 24,355 women (AHR = 1.705, 99%CI = 1.566, 1.857) with low incomes. The opposite relationship was found for 25,436 men (AHR = 0.710,99%CI = 0.617, 0.0.816) and for 12,922 women (AHR = 0.693,99%CI = 0.534, 0.900) with high incomes. When examining the total study population, we found evidence to support the “sick immigrant” phenomenon. However, both men and women in the high-income subgroup, and women in the middle-income subgroup, demonstrated the “healthy immigrant” phenomenon. Decision-makers in Israel should pay particular attention to immigrants from a low socioeconomic level. Our results emphasize the need for social stratification when examining the relationships between immigration and health outcomes. This retrospective cohort study of mortality follows immigrants from the USSR, who immigrated to Israel during 1990–1995. Immigration is a risk factor for mortality among both sexes, but more so among men. Whenstratified by sex and income level, we found that among low-income men and women, immigration was associated with increased mortality. Among high-income men and middle- and high-income women, the risk of mortality was lower among immigrants. The study has implications for the health care of immigrants at different stages and from different backgrounds.
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Kostareva U, Albright CL, Berens EM, Levin-Zamir D, Aringazina A, Lopatina M, Ivanov LL, Sentell TL. International Perspective on Health Literacy and Health Equity: Factors That Influence the Former Soviet Union Immigrants. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:E2155. [PMID: 32213891 PMCID: PMC7142703 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17062155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2020] [Revised: 03/07/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Among the world's 272 million international migrants, more than 25 million are from the former Soviet Union (FSU), yet there is a paucity of literature available about FSU immigrants' health literacy. Besides linguistic and cultural differences, FSU immigrants often come from a distinct healthcare system affecting their ability to find, evaluate, process, and use health information in the host countries. In this scoping review and commentary, we describe the health literacy issues of FSU immigrants and provide an overview of FSU immigrants' health literacy based on the integrated health literacy model. We purposefully consider the three most common locations where FSU immigrants have settled: the USA, Germany, and Israel. For context, we describe the healthcare systems of the three host countries and the two post-Soviet countries to illustrate the contribution of system-level factors on FSU immigrants' health literacy. We identify research gaps and set a future research agenda to help understand FSU immigrants' health literacy across countries. Amidst the ongoing global population changes related to international migration, this article contributes to a broad-scope understanding of health literacy among FSU immigrants related to the system-level factors that may also apply to other immigrants, migrants, and refugees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uliana Kostareva
- School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene, University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA;
| | - Cheryl L. Albright
- School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene, University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA;
| | - Eva-Maria Berens
- Interdisciplinary Center for Health Literacy Research, Bielefeld University, 33699 Bielefeld, Germany;
| | - Diane Levin-Zamir
- Department of Health Education and Promotion, Clalit Health Services, School of Public Health, University of Haifa, Haifa 31000, Israel;
| | - Altyn Aringazina
- Kazakhstan School of Public Health, Medical University, Almaty 050000, Kazakhstan;
| | - Maria Lopatina
- National Medical Research Center for Therapy and Preventive Medicine of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 101000 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Luba L. Ivanov
- Chamberlain College of Nursing, Chamberlain University, Downers Grove, 60515 IL, USA;
| | - Tetine L. Sentell
- Office of Public Health Studies, University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA;
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Immigration and health among non-Hispanic whites: The impact of arrival cohort and region of birth. Soc Sci Med 2019; 246:112754. [PMID: 31887628 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2019.112754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2019] [Revised: 12/13/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Immigration is central to our understanding of U.S. racial and ethnic health disparities, yet relatively little is known about the health of white immigrants - a group whose ethnic origins have become increasingly diverse. To the extent that whites are included in social stratification research, they are typically used as the reference category for gauging health inequities, with little attention to diversity among them. This study addresses this question using nationally representative data from the American Community Survey (2008-2017). We disaggregate non-Hispanic whites by nativity, region of birth, and period of arrival in the U.S. and examine differences in physical disability among adults aged 40 and older (n = 12, 075, 638). The analysis finds that foreign-born whites have a slightly lower prevalence of disability than U.S.-born whites, and this varies by arrival cohort. Immigrants who arrived in the 1981-1990 and 1991-2000 cohorts have a smaller advantage over U.S.-born whites than immigrants in the earlier and later cohorts. Compositional changes in the region of birth of white immigrants, especially the influx of eastern Europeans and Middle Easterners during the 1980s and 1990s, explained this variation. These findings challenge the oft-assumed notion that whites are a monolithic group and highlight growing intra-ethnic heterogeneity that is obscured by the aggregate category. Our findings also suggest that the standard practice of using whites as the reference for benchmarking health inequities may mask health inequities not only among them, but also between whites and other racial and ethnic populations.
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Does migration matter? The case of older Russian speakers receiving long term services and supports. J Aging Stud 2019; 50:100789. [PMID: 31526492 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaging.2019.100789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Accepted: 06/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Maskileyson D. Health trajectories of immigrants in the United States: Does income inequality of country of origin matter? Soc Sci Med 2019; 230:246-255. [DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2019.04.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2018] [Revised: 04/17/2019] [Accepted: 04/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Nkimbeng M, Cudjoe J, Turkson-Ocran RA, Commodore-Mensah Y, Thorpe RJ, Szanton SL. Disparities in the Prevalence and Correlates of Disability in Older Immigrants in the USA: a Systematic Review of the Literature. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2019; 6:552-562. [PMID: 30618007 PMCID: PMC6500484 DOI: 10.1007/s40615-018-00554-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Revised: 12/12/2018] [Accepted: 12/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Disability in older adults leads to poor quality of life, is costly for the health system, and is a risk for mortality. Little is known about disability in older immigrants to the USA. OBJECTIVE To synthesize the evidence on the prevalence and factors associated with disability in older adult immigrants. METHODS We conducted searches in PubMed, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and Scopus. Disability was defined as difficulty in performing basic or instrumental activities of daily living. Older adult was defined as 65 years and older. Immigrant status was defined as someone born outside of the USA. RESULTS Eighteen articles met the inclusion criteria. Seven studied Hispanic/Latino immigrants, six studied Asian immigrants, four studied diverse older immigrant samples, and one studied European immigrants. Prevalence of disability ranged from 2 to 49% in Asians and 3 to 58.1% in Hispanic/Latinos. In a diverse sample of immigrants, the prevalence of disability was 19.3%. Correlates of disability included female gender, low income, limited education, single status, migration in late adulthood, obesity, arthritis, and diabetes. Factors protective against disability in older adult immigrants were acculturation, migrating at a younger age, exercise, alcohol intake, and church attendance. CONCLUSION Disability prevalence was generally lower in Asian immigrants compared to Hispanic/Latino immigrants. Identification of the precise rates and factors associated with disability in older immigrants can inform health interventions for this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manka Nkimbeng
- Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, 525 N Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
| | - Joycelyn Cudjoe
- Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, 525 N Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | | | | | - Roland J Thorpe
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 525 N Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Sarah L Szanton
- Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, 525 N Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 525 N Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
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18
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Rask S, Elo IT, Koskinen S, Lilja E, Koponen P, Castaneda AE. The association between discrimination and health: findings on Russian, Somali and Kurdish origin populations in Finland. Eur J Public Health 2019; 28:898-903. [PMID: 29878120 DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/cky100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The Second European Union Minorities and Discrimination Survey recently demonstrated widespread discrimination across EU countries, with high discrimination rates observed in countries like Finland. Discrimination is known to negatively impact health, but fewer studies have examined how different types of perceived discrimination are related to health. Methods This study examines (i) the prevalence of different types of perceived discrimination among Russian, Somali and Kurdish origin populations in Finland, and (ii) the association between different types of perceived discrimination (no experiences; subtle discrimination only; overt or subtle and overt discrimination) and health (self-rated health; limiting long-term illness (LLTI) or disability; mental health symptoms). Data are from the Finnish Migrant Health and Wellbeing Study (n = 1795). Subtle discrimination implies reporting being treated with less courtesy and/or treated with less respect than others, and overt discrimination being called names or insulted and/or threatened or harassed. The prevalence of discrimination and the associations between discrimination and health were calculated with predicted margins and logistic regression. Results Experiences of subtle discrimination were more common than overt discrimination in all the studied groups. Subtle discrimination was reported by 29% of Somali origin persons and 35% Russian and Kurdish origin persons. The prevalence of overt discrimination ranged between 22% and 24%. Experiences of discrimination increased the odds for poor self-reported health, LLTI and mental health symptoms, particularly among those reporting subtle discrimination only. Conclusions To promote the health of diverse populations, actions against racism and discrimination are highly needed, including initiatives that promote shared belonging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shadia Rask
- Department of Welfare, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Irma T Elo
- Department of Sociology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Seppo Koskinen
- Department of Public Health Solutions, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Eero Lilja
- Department of Welfare, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Päivikki Koponen
- Department of Public Health Solutions, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anu E Castaneda
- Department of Welfare, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
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Read JG, Ajrouch KJ, West JS. Disparities in functional disability among Arab Americans by nativity, immigrant arrival cohort, and country of birth. SSM Popul Health 2019; 7:100325. [PMID: 30581961 PMCID: PMC6293045 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2018.100325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2018] [Revised: 11/12/2018] [Accepted: 11/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
This study contributes to a growing literature that documents the importance of arrival cohort and country of birth for differentiating the health of U.S. immigrants. We use nationally-representative data from nine years of the American Community Survey (2008-2016) to examine if an immigrant health advantage exists among Arab Americans ages 40+ (n = 49,867) and test if differences among the foreign-born vary by arrival cohort (pre-1991, 1991-2000, and 2001+). Results from multivariate logistic regression models find that foreign-born Arab Americans have higher odds of physical and self-care disability, and this varies by immigrant arrival cohort. The post-2001 cohort had the highest odds of both disabilities, while the earlier two cohorts did not differ from the native-born after adjustments for covariates. Compositional differences in birthplace, particularly the large influx of immigrants from Iraq in the most recent cohort, explained these differences. Political instabilities globally have contributed to a growing number of U.S. immigrants with vulnerabilities that might be overlooked when arrival cohorts are not considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jen’nan G. Read
- Department of Sociology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Kristine J. Ajrouch
- Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminology, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI, USA
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20
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The Healthy Immigrant Effect: The role of educational selectivity in the good health of migrants. DEMOGRAPHIC RESEARCH 2019. [DOI: 10.4054/demres.2019.40.4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
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21
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Eckemoff EH, Sudha S, Wang D. End of Life Care for Older Russian Immigrants - Perspectives of Russian Immigrants and Hospice Staff. J Cross Cult Gerontol 2018; 33:229-245. [DOI: 10.1007/s10823-018-9353-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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22
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Salama E, Niemelä S, Suvisaari J, Laatikainen T, Koponen P, Castaneda AE. The prevalence of substance use among Russian, Somali and Kurdish migrants in Finland: a population-based study. BMC Public Health 2018; 18:651. [PMID: 29788931 PMCID: PMC5964663 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-018-5564-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2017] [Accepted: 05/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Substance use is a well-known public health problem, but population-based research on migrants’ substance use in Europe is limited. Factors related to the cultural background and current life situation might influence substance use among migrants. Here, the prevalence of substance use in Russian, Somali and Kurdish migrants in Finland is reported in comparison with the general population, and the associations between substance use and socio-economic and migration-related background factors among migrants are analysed. Methods Cross-sectional data from the Finnish Migrant Health and Wellbeing Study (Maamu) and comparison group data of the general Finnish population (n = 1165) from the Health 2011 Survey were used. The survey participants were of Russian (n = 702), Somali (n = 512), and Kurdish (n = 632) origin. Substance use included self-reported alcohol use within previous 12 months (AUDIT-C questionnaire), current and lifetime daily smoking and lifetime use of cannabis and intravenous drugs. Results Binge drinking was less prevalent among all migrant groups than in the general Finnish population (Russian men 65%, p < 0.01; Russian women 30%, p < 0.01, Somali men 2%, p < 0.01, Kurdish men 27%, p < 0.01, Kurdish women 6%, p < 0.01, general population men 87% and women 72%). Current daily smoking was more prevalent among Russian (28%, p = 0.04) and Kurdish (29%, p < 0.01) migrant men compared with the reference group (20%). Younger age and employment were associated with binge drinking among migrants. Socio-economic disadvantage increased the odds for daily smoking in Russian, Somali and Kurdish migrant men. Several migration-related factors, such as age at migration and language proficiency, were associated with substance use. Conclusions Binge drinking is less common among migrants than in the Finnish general population. However, current daily smoking was more prevalent among Russian and Kurdish migrant men compared with the general population. Younger age, level of education, employment, duration of residence in Finland and language proficiency were associated with binge drinking and daily smoking with varying patterns of association depending on the migrant group and gender. These findings draw attention to the variation in substance use habits among migrant populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Essi Salama
- Doctoral Programme in Clinical Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, FI-20520, Turku, Finland. .,Department of Child Psychiatry, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Building 10, Kiinamyllynkatu 4-8, FI-20521, Turku, Finland.
| | - Solja Niemelä
- Research Unit of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oulu, P.O.Box 8000, FI-90014 University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Turku, FI-20014, Turku, Finland
| | - Jaana Suvisaari
- National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), P.O. Box 30, FI-00271, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tiina Laatikainen
- National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), P.O. Box 30, FI-00271, Helsinki, Finland.,Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211, Kuopio, Finland.,Joint municipal authority for North Karelia social and health services, Tikkamäentie 16, 80210, Joensuu, Finland
| | - Päivikki Koponen
- National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), P.O. Box 30, FI-00271, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anu E Castaneda
- National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), P.O. Box 30, FI-00271, Helsinki, Finland.,Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychology and Logopedics, University of Helsinki, Haartmaninkatu 8, P.O. Box 63, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland
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23
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Fox J, Klüsener S, Myrskylä M. Is a Positive Relationship Between Fertility and Economic Development Emerging at the Sub-National Regional Level? Theoretical Considerations and Evidence from Europe. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF POPULATION-REVUE EUROPEENNE DE DEMOGRAPHIE 2018; 35:487-518. [PMID: 31372102 PMCID: PMC6639514 DOI: 10.1007/s10680-018-9485-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2016] [Accepted: 02/28/2018] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Evidence for nation-states suggests that the long-standing negative relationship between fertility and economic development might turn positive at high levels of development. The robustness of the reversal continues to be debated. We add to this discussion from a novel angle by considering whether such a reversal could also occur at the sub-national level within highly developed countries. Our contributions are both theoretical and empirical. We first discuss important trends which might foster the emergence of a positive fertility-development relationship across regions of highly developed countries. These include shifts in family policies, changes in the spatial organisation of the economic sphere, and selective international and internal migration processes. In order to explore whether we observe tendencies towards a reversal, we investigate data covering 20 European countries subdivided in 256 regions between 1990 and 2012. We document a weakening of the negative relationship between fertility and economic development within many countries, and among some countries the emergence of a positive relationship. These findings do not seem to be driven by postponement effects alone. However, there is substantial variation in the fertility and the economic development levels at which such tendencies towards a reversal are observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Fox
- 1John F. Kennedy Institute for North American Studies, Freie Universität Berlin, Lansstr. 7-9, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Sebastian Klüsener
- 2Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Konrad-Zuse-Str. 1, 18057 Rostock, Germany.,3Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Mikko Myrskylä
- 2Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Konrad-Zuse-Str. 1, 18057 Rostock, Germany.,4London School of Economics, London, UK.,5University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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24
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Engelman M, Kestenbaum BM, Zuelsdorff ML, Mehta NK, Lauderdale DS. Work Disability Among Native-born and Foreign-born Americans: On Origins, Health, and Social Safety Nets. Demography 2017; 54:2273-2300. [PMID: 28975558 PMCID: PMC5705426 DOI: 10.1007/s13524-017-0617-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Public debates about both immigration policy and social safety net programs are increasingly contentious. However, little research has explored differences in health within America's diverse population of foreign-born workers, and the effect of these workers on public benefit programs is not well understood. We investigate differences in work disability by nativity and origins and describe the mix of health problems associated with receiving Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. Our analysis draws on two large national data sources-the American Community Survey and comprehensive administrative records from the Social Security Administration-to determine the prevalence and incidence of work disability between 2001 and 2010. In sharp contrast to prior research, we find that foreign-born adults are substantially less likely than native-born Americans to report work disability, to be insured for work disability benefits, and to apply for those benefits. Overall and across origins, the foreign-born also have a lower incidence of disability benefit award. Persons from Africa, Northern Europe, Canada, and parts of Asia have the lowest work disability benefit prevalence rates among the foreign-born; persons from Southern Europe, Western Europe, the former Soviet Union, and the Caribbean have the highest rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Engelman
- Department of Sociology and Center for Demography and Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1180 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI, 53704, USA.
| | - Bert M Kestenbaum
- Office of the Chief Actuary, Social Security Administration, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Megan L Zuelsdorff
- Center for Demography of Health and Aging, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Neil K Mehta
- Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Diane S Lauderdale
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
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25
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Vang ZM, Sigouin J, Flenon A, Gagnon A. Are immigrants healthier than native-born Canadians? A systematic review of the healthy immigrant effect in Canada. ETHNICITY & HEALTH 2017; 22:209-241. [PMID: 27809589 DOI: 10.1080/13557858.2016.1246518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 172] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Immigrants are typically healthier than the native-born population in the receiving country and also tend to be healthier than non-migrants in the countries of origin. This foreign-born health advantage has been referred to as the healthy immigrant effect (HIE). We examined evidence for the HIE in Canada. DESIGN We employed a systematic search of the literature on immigration and health and identified 78 eligible studies. We used a narrative method to synthesize the HIE across different stages of the life-course and different health outcomes within each stage. We also examined the empirical evidence for positive selection and duration effects - two common explanations of migrants' health advantage and deterioration, respectively. RESULTS We find that the HIE appears to be strongest during adulthood but less so during childhood/adolescence and late life. A foreign-born health advantage is also more robust for mortality but less so for morbidity. The HIE is also stronger for more recent immigrants but further research is needed to determine the critical threshold for when migrants' advantage disappears. Positive selection as an explanation for the HIE remains underdeveloped. CONCLUSIONS There is an absence of a uniform foreign-born health advantage across different life-course stages and health outcomes in Canada. Nonetheless, it remains the case that the HIE characterizes the majority of contemporary migrants since Canada's foreign-born population consists mostly of core working age adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoua M Vang
- a Department of Sociology , McGill University , Montréal , Québec , Canada
| | - Jennifer Sigouin
- a Department of Sociology , McGill University , Montréal , Québec , Canada
| | - Astrid Flenon
- b Département de démographie , Université de Montréal , Montréal , Québec , Canada
| | - Alain Gagnon
- b Département de démographie , Université de Montréal , Montréal , Québec , Canada
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26
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Mehta NK, Elo IT, Engelman M, Lauderdale DS, Kestenbaum BM. Life Expectancy Among U.S.-born and Foreign-born Older Adults in the United States: Estimates From Linked Social Security and Medicare Data. Demography 2016; 53:1109-34. [PMID: 27383845 PMCID: PMC5026916 DOI: 10.1007/s13524-016-0488-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
In recent decades, the geographic origins of America's foreign-born population have become increasingly diverse. The sending countries of the U.S. foreign-born vary substantially in levels of health and economic development, and immigrants have arrived with distinct distributions of socioeconomic status, visa type, year of immigration, and age at immigration. We use high-quality linked Social Security and Medicare records to estimate life tables for the older U.S. population over the full range of birth regions. In 2000-2009, the foreign-born had a 2.4-year advantage in life expectancy at age 65 relative to the U.S.-born, with Asian-born subgroups displaying exceptionally high longevity. Foreign-born individuals who migrated more recently had lower mortality compared with those who migrated earlier. Nonetheless, we also find remarkable similarities in life expectancy among many foreign-born subgroups that were born in very different geographic and socioeconomic contexts (e.g., Central America, western/eastern Europe, and Africa).
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil K Mehta
- Department of Global Health, Emory University, Claudia Nance Rollins Building, 1518 Clifton Road, Room 7035, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
| | - Irma T Elo
- Population Aging Research Center and Population Studies Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Michal Engelman
- Department of Sociology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Diane S Lauderdale
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Bert M Kestenbaum
- Office of the Chief Actuary, Social Security Administration, Baltimore, MD, USA
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The Migrant Paradox in Children and the Role of Schools in Reducing Health Disparities: A Cross-Sectional Study of Migrant and Native Children in Beijing, China. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0160025. [PMID: 27459507 PMCID: PMC4961441 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0160025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2015] [Accepted: 05/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Migrants usually exhibit similar or better health outcomes than native-born populations despite facing socioeconomic disadvantages and barriers to healthcare use; this is known as the “migrant paradox.” The migrant paradox among children is highly complex. This study explores whether the migrant paradox exists in the health of internal migrant children in China and the role of schools in reducing children’s health disparities, using a multi-stage stratified cluster sampling method. Participants were 1,641 student and parent pairs from Grades 4, 5, and 6 of eight primary schools in Beijing. The following school types were included: state schools with migrant children comprising over 70% of total children (SMS), private schools with migrant children comprising over 70% (PMS), and state schools with permanent resident children comprising over 70% (SRS). Children were divided into Groups A, B, C or D by the type of school they attended (A and B were drawn from SRSs, C was from SMSs, and D was from PMSs) and whether they were in the migrant population (B, C, and D were, but A was not). Related information was collected through medical examination and questionnaires completed by parents and children. Prevalence of caries, overweight and obesity, poor vision, and self-reported incidence of colds and diarrhea in the previous month were explored as health outcomes. The results partially demonstrated the existence of the migrant paradox and verified the role of schools in lowering health disparities among children; there are theoretical and practical implications for improving the health of migrant children.
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Ro A, Fleischer NL, Blebu B. An examination of health selection among U.S. immigrants using multi-national data. Soc Sci Med 2016; 158:114-21. [PMID: 27132066 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.04.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2015] [Revised: 02/01/2016] [Accepted: 04/19/2016] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
While migrants are widely believed to be positively selected on health, there has been very little empirical exploration of the actual health differential between migrants and non-migrants. This paper explored: 1) the extent of health selection by comparing US immigrants from 19 sending countries to their non-migrating counterparts still residing in the countries of origin; 2) country-level correlates of health selection; and 3) whether country-level health selection accounted for differences in self-rated health between immigrants and US-born Whites. We combined nationally-representative international data with data from US immigrants from the 2003-2007 Current Population Survey. The health selectivity measure was the Net Difference Index (NDI), which compares the distribution of self-rated health between migrants and non-migrants. We calculated Spearman correlation and bivariate regression coefficients between the NDI and economic, health, distance, and migration characteristics of the sending countries. We used generalized estimating equation models to examine the association between country-level health selection and immigrants' current self-rated health. We found immigrants from South America to show the most positive health selection. Health selection was significantly correlated with visa mode of entry, where family networks decrease, but work-related networks increase health selection. There was little evidence that country-level health selection explained differences in the self-rated health of US immigrants relative to US-born Whites. Our findings do not support the idea that country-level health selection underlies the "healthy immigrant effect".
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Affiliation(s)
- Annie Ro
- UC Irvine, Program in Public Health, Anteater Instruction and Research Building (AIRB), Room 2036, 653 E. Peltason Road, Irvine, CA 92697-3957, USA.
| | - Nancy L Fleischer
- Center for Social Epidemiology and Population Health, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
| | - Bridgette Blebu
- UC Irvine, Program in Public Health, Anteater Instruction and Research Building (AIRB), Room 2036, 653 E. Peltason Road, Irvine, CA 92697-3957, USA.
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Girard C. Immigrant use of public assistance and mode of entry: Demographics versus dependence. SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH 2015; 53:1-18. [PMID: 26188434 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssresearch.2015.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2014] [Revised: 03/11/2015] [Accepted: 04/24/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
A view that gained momentum in the 1990s, and which is sustained by some policy analysts and labor economists today, is that dependence on public assistance is greater for immigrants than for natives. Accordingly, this study investigates nativity differentials in the use of nine assistance programs, focusing on immigrant arrival cohorts within three distinct mode-of-entry proxy categories. The logistic regression analysis uses data from the 2013 CPS March supplement. To permit more nuanced interpretation, control variables are introduced hierarchically in a three-stage analysis. One new finding is that each of the three major regional-origin groups within the 1980-1995 refugee cohort-with an average length of residence exceeding two decades-sustains greater use of either SSI or Medicaid than natives. The study concludes that nativity differences in the use of public assistance continue to rest on the socio-demographic composition of three distinct populations, determined by mode of entry into the U.S.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris Girard
- Florida International University, Global and Sociocultural Studies, 11200 SW 8th St., Miami, FL 33199, United States.
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30
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Urquia ML, Vang ZM, Bolumar F. Birth Outcomes of Latin Americans in Two Countries with Contrasting Immigration Admission Policies: Canada and Spain. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0136308. [PMID: 26308857 PMCID: PMC4550416 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0136308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2015] [Accepted: 08/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background We delved into the selective migration hypothesis on health by comparing birth outcomes of Latin American immigrants giving birth in two receiving countries with dissimilar immigration admission policies: Canada and Spain. We hypothesized that a stronger immigrant selection in Canada will reflect more favourable outcomes among Latin Americans giving birth in Canada than among their counterparts giving birth in Spain. Materials and Methods We conducted a cross-sectional bi-national comparative study. We analyzed birth data of singleton infants born in Canada (2000–2005) (N = 31,767) and Spain (1998–2007) (N = 150,405) to mothers born in Spanish-speaking Latin American countries. We compared mean birthweight at 37–41 weeks gestation, and low birthweight and preterm birth rates between Latin American immigrants to Canada vs. Spain. Regression analysis for aggregate data was used to obtain Odds Ratios and Mean birthweight differences adjusted for infant sex, maternal age, parity, marital status, and father born in same source country. Results Latin American women in Canada had heavier newborns than their same-country counterparts giving birth in Spain, overall [adjusted mean birthweight difference: 101 grams; 95% confidence interval (CI): 98, 104], and within each maternal country of origin. Latin American women in Canada had fewer low birthweight and preterm infants than those giving birth in Spain [adjusted Odds Ratio: 0.88; 95% CI: 0.82, 0.94 for low birthweight, and 0.88; 95% CI: 0.84, 0.93 for preterm birth, respectively]. Conclusion Latin American immigrant women had better birth outcomes in Canada than in Spain, suggesting a more selective migration in Canada than in Spain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo L. Urquia
- Centre for Research on Inner City Health, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Keenan Research Centre, St Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Canada
- Dalla Lana Faculty of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Canada
- * E-mail:
| | - Zoua M. Vang
- Sociology Department, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Francisco Bolumar
- CIBERESP and Universidad de Alcalá, Madrid, Spain
- City University of New York, School of Public Health at Hunter College, New York, New York, United States of America
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Blumstein T, Benyamini Y, Boyko V, Lerner-Geva L. Women's knowledge about heart disease: Differences among ethnic and cultural groups in the Israeli Women's Health in Midlife Study. Women Health 2015. [PMID: 26214539 DOI: 10.1080/03630242.2015.1074639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The current investigation aimed to assess levels of knowledge about risk factors for heart disease among midlife Israeli women, and to evaluate the relationship of knowledge to personal risk factors and vulnerability to heart disease. Face-to-face interviews with women aged 45-64 years were conducted during 2004-2006 within three population groups: long-term Jewish residents (LTR), immigrants from the former Soviet Union, and Arab women. The survey instrument included six knowledge statements relating to: the risk after menopause, family history, elevated cholesterol level, diabetes, obesity, and warning signs of a heart attack. The findings showed wide disparities in knowledge by educational level and between immigrants and LTR, after taking into account personal risk factors and education. Personal risk factors were not significantly related to the knowledge items, except for personal history of cardiovascular disease, which was associated with knowledge about "warning signs of a heart attack" and "family history." Women who perceived themselves as more vulnerable to heart disease were more likely to identify several risk factors correctly. These findings stress the need to increase knowledge about heart disease, especially among less educated and minority women, and to emphasize the risk of patients' personal status by health providers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tzvia Blumstein
- a Women and Children's Health Research Unit , The Gertner Institute for Epidemiology and Health Policy Research, Ltd ., Tel Hashomer , Ramat Gan , Israel
| | - Yael Benyamini
- b Bob Shapell School of Social Work , Tel Aviv University , Tel Aviv , Israel
| | - Valentina Boyko
- a Women and Children's Health Research Unit , The Gertner Institute for Epidemiology and Health Policy Research, Ltd ., Tel Hashomer , Ramat Gan , Israel
| | - Liat Lerner-Geva
- c Women and Children's Health Research Unit , The Gertner Institute for Epidemiology and Health Policy Research, Ltd. , Tel Hashomer , Ramat Gan , Israel.,d Sackler Faculty of Medicine , Tel Aviv University , Tel Aviv , Israel
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Ro A, Fleischer N. Changes in health selection of obesity among Mexican immigrants: a binational examination. Soc Sci Med 2014; 123:114-24. [PMID: 25462612 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2014.10.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2014] [Revised: 10/16/2014] [Accepted: 10/24/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Health selection is often measured by comparing the health of more recent immigrants to the native born of their new host country. However, this comparison fails to take into account two important factors: (1) that changes in the health profile of sending countries may impact the health of immigrants over time, and (2) that the best comparison group for health selection would be people who remain in the country of origin. Obesity represents an important health outcome that may be best understood by taking into account these two factors. Using nationally-representative datasets from Mexico and the US, we examined differences in obesity-related health selection, by gender, in 2000 and 2012. We calculated prevalence ratios from log-binomial models to compare the risk of obesity among recent immigrants to the US to Mexican nationals with varying likelihood of migration, in order to determine changes in health selection over time. Among men in 2000, we found little difference in obesity status between recent immigrants to the US and Mexican non-migrants. However, in 2012, Mexican men who were the least likely to migrate had higher obesity prevalence than recent immigrants, which may reflect emerging health selection. The trends for women, however, indicated differences in obesity status between recent Mexican immigrants and non-migrants at both time points. In both 2000 and 2012, Mexican national women had significantly higher obesity prevalence than recent immigrant women, with the biggest difference between recent immigrants and Mexican women who were least likely to migrate. There was also indication that selection increased with time for women, as the differences between Mexican nationals and recent immigrants to the US grew from 2000 to 2012. Our study is among the first to use a binational dataset to examine the impact of health selectivity, over time, on obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annie Ro
- UC Irvine, Program in Public Health, Anteater Instruction and Research Building (AIRB), Room 2036, 653 E. Peltason Road, Irvine, CA 92697-3957, USA.
| | - Nancy Fleischer
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health University of South Carolina, 915 Greene St, 4th Floor, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
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The effect of migration on hypertension and other cardiovascular risk factors: A review. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 8:171-91. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jash.2013.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2013] [Revised: 12/27/2013] [Accepted: 12/30/2013] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Vang ZM, Elo IT. Exploring the health consequences of majority-minority neighborhoods: minority diversity and birthweight among native-born and foreign-born blacks. Soc Sci Med 2013; 97:56-65. [PMID: 24161089 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2013.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2012] [Revised: 02/03/2013] [Accepted: 07/11/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
We examined the association between neighborhood minority diversity and infant birthweight among non-Hispanic US-born black women and foreign-born black women from Sub-Saharan Africa and the non-Spanish speaking Caribbean using 2002-2006 vital statistics birth record data from the state of New Jersey (n = 73,907). We used a standardized entropy score to measure the degree of minority diversity (i.e., non-white multiethnic racial heterogeneity) for each census tract where women lived. We distinguished between four levels of minority diversity, with the highest level representing majority-minority neighborhoods. We estimated mean birthweight for singleton births over this 5-year period using linear regression with robust standard errors to correct for clustering of mothers within census tracts. We found significant differences in mean birthweight by mother's country of origin such that infants of US-born black mothers weighed significantly less than the infants of African and Caribbean immigrants (3130 g vs. 3299 g and 3212 g; p < 0.001). Adjustments for neighborhood deprivation, residential instability, individual-level sociodemographics, maternal health behaviors and conditions, and gestational age did not reduce these origin differences. Minority diversity had a protective effect on black infant health. Women living in low and moderately diverse tracts as well as those in majority-minority neighborhoods had heavier babies (β = 26.5, 29.8 and 61.2, respectively, p < 0.001) on average than women in the least diverse tracts. The results for majority-minority neighborhoods were robust when we controlled for neighborhood- and individual-level covariates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoua M Vang
- Department of Sociology, McGill University, 713 Leacock Building, 855 Sherbrooke Street, Montreal, QC H3A 2T7, Canada.
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