Psychiatry Research
Volume 267, 2018, Pages 438-445

Immigrants and mental disorders in the united states: New evidence on the healthy migrant hypothesis (Article)

Salas-Wright C.P.* , Vaughn M.G. , Goings T.C. , Miller D.P. , Schwartz S.J.
  • a School of Social Work, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
  • b School of Social Work, College for Public Health and Social Justice, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, United States
  • c School of Social Work, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
  • d School of Social Work, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
  • e Department of Public Health Sciences, Division of Prevention Science & Community Health, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States

Abstract

Objectives: Despite experiencing migration-related stress and social adversity, immigrants are less likely to experience an array of adverse behavioral and health outcomes. Guided by the healthy migrant hypothesis, which proposes that this paradox can be explained in part by selection effects, we examine the prevalence and comorbidity of mental disorders among immigrants to the United States (US). Methods: Findings are based on the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (2012–2013), a nationally representative survey of 36,309 adults in the US. Results: Immigrants were significantly less likely than US-born individuals to meet criteria for a lifetime disorder (AOR = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.57–0.71) or to report parental history of psychiatric problems. Compared to US-born individuals, the prevalence of mental disorders was not significantly different among individuals who immigrated as children; however, differences were observed for immigrants who arrived as adolescents (ages 12–17) or as adults (age 18+). Discussion: Consistent with the healthy migrant hypothesis, immigrants are less likely to come from families with psychiatric problems, and those who migrate after childhood—when selection effects are most likely to be observed—have the lowest levels of psychiatric morbidity. © 2018 Elsevier B.V.

Author Keywords

Mental health immigrants Acculturation

Index Keywords

personality disorder immigrant health survey human comorbidity middle aged priority journal comparative study Mental Disorders mental disease United States Young Adult Humans migrant American Adolescent male Emigrants and Immigrants female Personality Disorders prevalence Article major clinical study adult migration age sample size medical history Emigration and Immigration family history Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85049312348&doi=10.1016%2fj.psychres.2018.06.039&partnerID=40&md5=8db69cf4f7f7b3acdcf9681e2d84f24f
DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.06.039
ISSN: 01651781
Cited by: 5
Original Language: English