Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research
Volume 43, Issue 4, 2016, Pages 616-627

The Healthy Immigrant Effect on Mental Health: Determinants and Implications for Mental Health Policy in Spain (Article)

Rivera B.* , Casal B. , Currais L.
  • a Department of Applied Economics, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of A Coruña, Campus de Elviña, A Coruña, 15071, Spain
  • b Department of Applied Economics, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of A Coruña, Campus de Elviña, A Coruña, 15071, Spain, University College of Labour Relations, University of A Coruña, A Coruña, Spain
  • c Department of Economic Analysis and Business Administration, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of A Coruña, A Coruña, Spain

Abstract

Since the mid-1990s, Spain has started to receive a great number of migrant populations. The migration process can have a significantly negative impact on mental health of immigrant population and, consequently, generate implications for the delivery of mental health services. The aim of this article is to provide empirical evidence to demonstrate that the mental health of immigrants in Spain deteriorates the longer they are resident in the country. An empirical approach to this relationship is carried out with data from the National Survey of Health of Spain 2011–2012 and poisson and negative binomial models. Results show that immigrants who reside <10 years in Spain appear to be in a better state of mental health than that observed for the national population. Studying health disparities in the foreign population and its evolution are relevant to ensure the population’s access to health services and care. The need for further research is especially true in the case of the immigrant population’s mental health in Spain because there is scant evidence available on their situation. © 2015, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Author Keywords

Healthy immigrant effect Mental health Spanish mental health service Immigration Social capital

Index Keywords

social capital health care policy mental health human middle aged time factor Time Factors Aged social support Humans migrant psychology male Emigrants and Immigrants Spain female adult age sex factor Sex Factors Age Factors Health Policy
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84935132809&doi=10.1007%2fs10488-015-0668-3&partnerID=40&md5=e8b0931e2c0531866684d890793ff227
DOI: 10.1007/s10488-015-0668-3
ISSN: 0894587X
Cited by: 9
Original Language: English