A careful examination of the multigenerational relationship between immigrant status and mental disorders can provide important information about the robustness and nature of the immigrant-mental health link. We examine immigrant status as a protective factor against mental illness, assess intergenerational effects, examine differences across race/ethnicity, and report the prevalence of mood, anxiety, and personality disorders of immigrants across major world regions. We employ data from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) and compare first (n=5363) and second-generation (n=4826) immigrants from Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America to native-born Americans (n=24,461) with respect to mental disorders. First-generation immigrants are significantly less likely than native-born Americans to be diagnosed with a mood, anxiety, or personality disorder, though the prevalence of mental health diagnoses increases among second generation immigrants. Similar results were observed for immigrants from major world regions as the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity was lower among immigrants from Africa, Latin America, Europe, and Asia compared to native-born Americans. Findings provide evidence in support of the notion that the immigrant paradox may be extended to include mood, anxiety, and personality disorders in the United States. © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

Immigrant paradox Personality disorders Immigrant Anxiety disorders Mental health Immigration mood disorders

information processing personality disorder mood disorder immigrant South and Central America anxiety disorder Europe race difference human middle aged Asia Ethnic Groups ethnic group controlled study Aged morbidity Anxiety Disorders ethnology procedures American Indian United States Young Adult Humans migrant psychology male Emigrants and Immigrants female Africa Personality Disorders prevalence Article adult ethnicity Mood Disorders Data Collection