The reasons older immigrants in the United States of America report for returning to Mexico

"Mi Familia Quiere Que Regrese": Retired Latiné Immigrants' Families' Expectations to Return to Their Country of Origin

We conducted a quantitative, interdisciplinary study that investigated how financial concerns and varying family connections influence the retirement choices of Latiné immigrants in terms of returning to their country of origin. We hypothesized that being worried about one's finances for retirement, and having strong transnational ties, would lead to familial expectations to return to one's country of origin. Through data collected from a survey through Qualtrics, we found that higher levels of financial worry significantly affected greater familial expectations to return to their country of origin. The transnational ties that influenced the families' expectations to return to their country of origin was having children, friends, and family not residing in the U.S. Following our findings, we discuss potential future directions and implications relating to transnational ties, remittances, and older Latiné immigrants.

US migration history and depressive symptoms among older mexican adults

OBJECTIVE

To explore the association between US migration, chronic conditions (diabetes, stroke, heart attack, cancer, and hypertension), and mental health (depressive symptoms, and depression).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We assessed average changes in depressive symptom scores as well as depression over time and their link with migration experience controlling for health and sociodemographic factors among older Mexican adults (50+) using 2012, 2015, and 2018 waves of the Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS).

RESULTS

Non-migrants had higher average depressive symptom scores and prevalence of depression (5+ score) in 2012 and 2015, but there was no significant difference in either measure in 2018 or on changes over time.

CONCLUSION

Although there were no significant differences in average depressive symptoms and depression over time by migration history, this study highlights some differences in 2012 and 2015. Comparing groups across migration histories allowed the researchers to examine how life course differences impact mental health outcomes.

Immigrant Wealth Stratification and Return Migration: The Case of Mexican Immigrants in the United States During the Twentieth Century

Considerable wealth stratification exists between U.S.-born and foreign-born populations (Campbell and Kaufman 2006), with low wealth attainment documented among Mexican immigrants (Hao 2007). High rates of Mexican return migration (Azose and Raftery 2019) suggest that nonrandom selection into return migration on wealth is a potential driver of stratification. Existing theories do not conclusively predict asset accumulation among returnees versus stayers, and empirical research on return migration and wealth stratification is scarce. Combining data from the 2000 U.S. Health and Retirement Study and the 2001 Mexican Health and Aging Study to create a novel data set representing all Mexicans aged 50 and older with a history of migration to the United States and adopting a life course perspective, I find that return migration at younger and older ages is associated with higher wealth accumulation and might be a way to maximize assets at older ages. Thus, return migration may contribute to nativity-based wealth stratification in the United States. The study's findings point to the greater financial risks for new cohorts of immigrants aging in place, suggest caution in interpreting wealth stratification as a measure of mobility, and inform theories about the links between return migration and wealth across the life course.

Where do overseas Filipinos intend to retire? The case of Filipinos in Chugoku region, Japan

Migrants nearing retirement age face issues and challenges distinct from those of migrants in their working age. Yet, their well-being has not been fully addressed because of lack of data. Drawing from the results of a survey of Filipinos residing in the Chugoku region in Western Japan ( n = 481), this study contributes to the literature on the aging-migration nexus by exploring migrants’ anxiety toward retirement and intended country of retirement. The results have crucial implications not only on migrants’ plans for retirement but also on the provision of social protection in both the host and the origin countries.

Adapting Andersen's expanded behavioral model of health services use to include older adults receiving long-term services and supports

BACKGROUND

Andersen's Expanded Behavioral Model of Health Services Use describes factors associated with the use of long-term services and supports (LTSS). This model, however, has only been tested on the intent to use such services among African-American and White older adults and not the actual use. Given the increasing diversity of older adults in the U.S., the ability to conceptualize factors associated with actual use of LTSS across racial/ethnic groups is critical.

METHODS

We applied Andersen's Expanded model in the analysis of 2006-2010 qualitative data using multiple methods to understand both the relevancy of factors for older adults who currently use LTSS vs. those who intend to use LTSS (as described in Andersen's original exploration). We additionally explored differences in these factors across racial/ethnic groups and included Hispanic older adults in our analyses.

RESULTS

Four additional constructs linked with actual LTSS use emerged: losses and changes, tangible support, capability to provide informal support, and accessibility of informal support. Racial differences were seen in level of participation in decisions to use nursing home services (Not involved: 45% African-Americans vs. 24% Whites). Reports of LTSS use to avoid burdening one's family were greater among White older adults compared to African-American older adults.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings around decision-making and burden along with other constructs enhance our understanding of determinants that influence actual LTSS use and require targeted interventions.

The Effects of Differences in Individual Characteristics and Regional Living Environments on the Motivation to Immigrate to Hometowns: A Decision Tree Analysis

Population decline and rural–urban population disparities are serious problems in Japan. This study aims to investigate the relationship between people’s motivations to migrate to their hometowns (“U-turn migration”) and their evaluations of the living environments of both their hometowns and current places of residence. An online questionnaire survey was conducted for people living in multiple places in Japan. By using the data of respondents’ U-turn motivations and their evaluations of living environments, we conducted a decision tree analysis to quantitatively describe the multilayered relationship between the environments and people’s motivations, and we focused on patterns that can ameliorate the population disparities. These are the major findings: first, living environments in both the hometown and at the current place of residence affected the U-turn motivations. Second, respondents were divided into several groups based on similar U-turn motivation structures, and with different demographic characters among the groups. Additionally, the evaluations of some living environments tend to depend on the city size or geographic locations. Although some groups’ U-turn migrations may improve population disparities, the improvement and maintenance of living environments are necessary. The results can help local governments in identifying the living environments that need development, and in estimating the feasibility of U-turn migrations.