Expanding the Happiness Paradox: Ethnoracial Disparities in Life Satisfaction Among Older Immigrants in the United States

Influence of biopsychosocial factors on self-reported anxiety/depression symptoms among first-generation immigrant population in the U.S

BACKGROUND

Despite increasing studies on mental health among immigrants, there are limited studies using nationally representative samples to examine immigrants' mental health and its potential biopsychosocial contributing factors, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. We explored and estimated the influence of life satisfaction, social/emotional support, and other biopsychosocial factors on self-reported anxiety/depression symptoms among a nationally representative sample of first-generation immigrants in the U.S.

METHODS

We conducted a secondary data analysis using the 2021 National Health Interview Survey among first-generation adults aged ≥ 18 years (n = 4295). We applied survey weights and developed multivariable logistic regression model to evaluate the study objective.

RESULTS

The prevalence of daily, weekly, or monthly anxiety/depression symptoms was 10.22% in the first-generation immigrant population. There were 2.04% daily, 3.27% weekly, and 4.91% monthly anxiety/depression among the population: about 8.20%, 9.94%, and 9.60% experienced anxiety symptoms, whereas 2.49%, 3.54%, and 5.34% experienced depression symptoms daily, weekly, and monthly, respectively. The first-generation population aged 26-49 years were less likely to experience anxiety/depression daily, weekly, or monthly compared to those aged 18-25. Females (versus males) were more likely to experience anxiety/depression daily, weekly, or monthly. Those who identified as gay/lesbian had higher odds of experiencing anxiety/depression daily, weekly, or monthly compared to heterosexual persons. Relative to non-Hispanic White individuals, non-Hispanic Asian, Black/African American, and Hispanic individuals had lower odds, while other/multi-racial/ethnic groups were more likely to experience anxiety/depression daily, weekly, or monthly. A higher life satisfaction score was associated with lower odds of experiencing anxiety/depression daily, weekly, or monthly. Having social/emotional support sometimes/rarely or using healthcare within the past one/two years was associated with experiencing anxiety/depression daily, weekly, or monthly.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings reveal significant burden of anxiety and depression among first-generation population in the U.S., with higher risks among subgroups like young adults, females, sexual minorities, and non-Hispanic White and other/multi-racial individuals. Additionally, individuals with lower life satisfaction scores, limited social/emotional support, or healthcare utilization in the past one or two years present increased risk. These findings highlight the need for personalized mental health screening and interventions for first-generation individuals in the U.S. based on their diversity and health-related risks.

Mediation analysis of mental health characteristics linking social needs to life satisfaction among immigrants

Background

Life satisfaction contributes to improved long and healthy lives, enhanced biological function, better mental health, and decreased mortality risks. Social needs (e.g., food security, employment, healthcare utilization) are important determinants of mental health and life satisfaction among immigrants. However, there is limited literature on how social needs influence mental health, which, in turn, affects life satisfaction among immigrants. We examined whether mental health influences the mechanisms of the relationship between social needs and life satisfaction among immigrants.

Methods

We used the 2021 cross-sectional National Health Interview Survey data on U.S. immigrants (n = 4320) aged ≥18 years. We conducted weighted mediation analyses with multiple linear regression. Life satisfaction (scores 0-10; ≥1 as higher life satisfaction) was the dependent variable; independent variables were food security, employment, and healthcare utilization; and the mediator, serious psychological distress (SPD: scores 0-24; ≥1 as higher SPD).

Results

The total effect (not accounting for SPD) of food insecurity (vs. secure) on life satisfaction was negative (β = -0.61, p < 0.001); the direct effect (after accounting for SPD) was not statistically significant (β = -0.21, p = 0.153), while the indirect effect (food insecurity's effect explained by SPD) was negative (β = -0.40, p < 0.001). The total (β = 0.32, p < 0.001), direct (β = 0.24, p = 0.004), and indirect (β = 0.09, p = 0.006) effects of being employed (vs. unemployed) on life satisfaction were positive. The total (β = -0.12, p = 0.116) and direct (β = -0.03, p = 0.683) effects of healthcare utilization within the past year (vs. more than a year) on life satisfaction were not statistically significant, whereas the indirect effect was negative (β = -0.09, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

SPD mediates the effect of food security, healthcare utilization, and employment on life satisfaction, suggesting the need to improve social needs and mental health among immigrants.

The American Dream: Is Immigration Associated with Life Satisfaction for Latinos of Mexican Descent?

The Latino population is one of the largest immigrant groups in the United States, with the majority being of Mexican descent. Whether immigrating to the US is positive for the well-being of Mexican immigrants and future generations is an important question. We examined how nativity status and quality of life indicators relate to life satisfaction among foreign-born and US-born Mexican descent Latinos living in California. Participants (N = 893) were from the California Quality of Life Survey, a population-based mental health survey of the California population. Multiple regressions examining sociodemographic and indicators of life satisfaction found higher life satisfaction among the foreign-born compared to US-born: (US-born first generation: Wald F = 18.70, p < 0.001; US-born second generation and higher: Wald F = 12.09, p < 0.001), females (Wald F = 7.05, p < 0.01), and individuals reporting more social support (Wald F = 40.20, p < 0.001), absence of frequent distress (Wald F = 41.46, p < 0.001), and better physical health (Wald F = 15.28, p < 0.001). Life satisfaction was lower for US-born Mexicans than for Mexican immigrants. Research, interventions, and policies are needed for mental health equity that address this lack of well-being in US-born Mexican Latinos.

Loneliness in Older Migrants: Exploring the Role of Cultural Differences in Their Loneliness Experience

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

The scientific literature suggests the necessity of studying loneliness from a broader social perspective. This article aims to broaden the research on loneliness in older migrants by exploring the role of cultural differences through the lens of the social environment (as measured in social capital, discrimination, and ageism) and social situation (as measured in relational mobility, childness, and marital status). Based on Hofstede's Individualism Index, older migrants involved in the BBC Loneliness Experiment (N = 2164) were classified into three groups: cultural migrants (i.e., from a collectivist to individualist culture) (N = 239), migrants with a similar culture (i.e., within an individualist culture) (N = 841), and ageing non-migrants (N = 1084).

OBJECTIVES

The two main objectives were (1) to compare the levels of loneliness among these three groups, and (2) to unravel how different influencing factors, such as the social environment, social situation, coping strategies, and personal characteristics, are related to loneliness.

METHODS

Bivariate analyses were performed to determine the differences in the loneliness, social environment, social situation, and personal characteristic variables between the groups, with adjusted p-values according to the Bonferroni correction to limit the potential for type I errors (α = 0.005). Multiple linear regressions were performed to unravel the relationships between loneliness and the different influencing factors, namely the social environment, social situation, coping strategies, and personal characteristics.

RESULTS

The bivariate analyses show no significant difference in loneliness across the three groups. The multiple linear regressions demonstrate that the social environment (i.e., social capital, discrimination, and ageism) is significantly associated with loneliness. Social capital acts as a protective factor for cultural migrants (β = -0.27, p < 0.005, 95% CI [-0.48, -0.05]), similar-culture migrants (β = -0.13, p < 0.005, 95% CI [-0.25, -0.03]), and non-migrants (β = -0.21, p < 0.001, 95% CI [-0.28, -0.12]). Discrimination and ageism are both risk factors for loneliness across the three groups. Social situation, as measured in married/cohabitation status and relational mobility, shows a significant association with loneliness in the non-migrants and similar-culture migrants but not the cultural migrants. In terms of individual resources for coping strategies, engagement in active coping is protective for all three groups. Non-coping, the unawareness of any coping strategies, is a risk factor, while passive coping shows no significant association.

DISCUSSION

The results show that the structural factor of the social environment in which older migrants' find themselves, rather than their culture of origin, is more important for older migrants' feelings of loneliness in later life. A favorable social environment with high social capital and low levels of discrimination and ageism protects against loneliness in the ageing population across cultures. Practical implications for loneliness interventions for older migrants are put forward.

Life Satisfaction and Intergenerational Mobility Among Older Hispanics in the United States

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the impact of intergenerational mobility-measured as the difference between one's own and one's father's education level-on overall life-satisfaction among Hispanic, White, and Black older Americans.

METHODS

Data from the Health and Retirement Study were used to estimate life satisfaction by race/ethnicity using ordinary least squares regression (N = 5,057).

RESULTS

Hispanic and Black older Americans report greater educational gains relative to their fathers compared to Whites. Despite having the lowest reported education levels, Hispanics report the highest life satisfaction across race/ethnic groups. However, net of education level and other factors, intergenerational mobility decreased rather than increased life satisfaction for Hispanic older Americans.

DISCUSSION

These results indicate that intergenerational mobility may not confer equal benefits for overall life satisfaction across racial/ethnic groups. As Hispanic individuals continue to achieve higher education levels, it is unclear whether upward mobility will translate to positive or negative assimilation consequences.

Demographic Predictors of Complete Well-Being

This paper examines demographic differences in flourishing, defined as "complete well-being" and consisting of six domains: emotional health, physical health, purpose, character strengths, social connectedness, and financial security. Results are based on a random, cross-sectional sample of 2363 survey respondents drawn from employees of a large, national, self-insured employer based in the United States. We found that well-being across domains tends to increase with age, although there are some variations. Results are similar across most domains for men and women, although women score higher on character strengths, while men had higher scores on financial security. Racial and ethnic differences were striking. Black employees score higher than the reference group (White employees) on the emotional, purpose, and character strengths domains, but considerably lower on financial security. Hispanics also score lower on financial security (though not as low as Blacks), but higher than Whites on purpose, character strengths, and social connectedness. Asians reported higher well-being than Whites across all domains except purpose.

The Life Satisfaction of Immigrants in Canada: Does Time Since Arrival Matter more than Income?

The subjective life satisfaction of individuals reveals valuable information about the overall well-being of a society. Furthermore, large international migration flows have led to the importance of studying the life satisfaction of immigrants within host countries, including Canada. This study uses secondary data from the 2013 Canadian General Social Survey, Cycle 27, to assess the life satisfaction of immigrants in Canada compared to Canadian-born individuals, and to determine the overall impact of immigrants’ year of arrival. Using bivariate and multivariate statistical models, the results reveal that the life satisfaction of immigrants does not significantly differ from the Canadian-born population, and that year of arrival has no significant effect. Income, however, seems to be a more important determinant of immigrants’ life satisfaction in Canada.

Immigrant-Native Disparities in Happiness among Middle-Aged and Older Adults in Western European Countries: The Moderating Role of Social Capital

Objective: This study investigated native-immigrant disparities in happiness among middle-aged and older adults in Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands and the moderating role of social capital associated with such disparities. Methods: Cross-sectional data from 2583 respondents aged 50 years or older from 10 origin countries from the 2015 wave of the Migrants' Welfare State Attitudes survey were used to estimate linear regression models. Results: Older immigrants experienced different levels of happiness compared with native-born individuals. Immigrants' socioeconomic status and other standard predictors accounted for much of the native-immigrant gap. Depending on origin countries, social capital had differential moderating roles compared to nonimmigrants. Conclusion: Immigrants were not always worse off than native-born residents; they showed a "happiness advantage" after controlling for socioeconomic status and related covariates. Social capital plays an important role in narrowing the immigrant-native gap in happiness.