Public Health Reports
Volume 126, Issue 3, 2011, Pages 361-370

Health selection among migrants from Mexico to the U.S.: Childhood predictors of adult physical and mental health (Article)

Breslau J.* , Borges G. , Tancredi D.J. , Saito N. , Anderson H. , Kravitz R. , Hinton L. , Aguilar-Gaxiola S. , Mora M.-E.M.
  • a University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Sacramento, CA, United States
  • b National Institute of Psychiatry, Mexico City, Mexico
  • c University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Sacramento, CA, United States
  • d University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, Center for Health Policy Research, Sacramento, CA, United States
  • e University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Sacramento, CA, United States
  • f University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Sacramento, CA, United States
  • g University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Sacramento, CA, United States
  • h University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Sacramento, CA, United States
  • i National Institute of Psychiatry, Mexico City, Mexico

Abstract

Objectives. We tested whether positive selection on childhood predictors of adult mental and physical health contributed to health advantages of Mexicanborn immigrants to the United States relative to U.S.-born Mexican Americans. Methods. We combined data from surveys conducted during 2000-2003 in Mexico and the U.S. with the same structured interview. We examined retrospective reports of childhood (i.e., <16 years of age) predictors of adult health-education, height, childhood physical illness, childhood mental health, early substance use, and childhood adversities-as predictors of migration from Mexico to the U.S. at ≥16 years of age. We estimated overall selection by comparing migrants to all non-migrants. We also examined selection at the family (members of families of migrants vs. members of families without a migrant) and individual (migrants vs. non-migrants within families of migrants) levels. Results. Distinguishing between family and individual selection revealed evidence of positive health selection that is obscured in the overall selection model. In particular, respondents in families with migrants were more likely to have ≥12 years of education (odds ratio [OR] = 1.60) and be in the tallest height quartile (OR=1.72) than respondents in families without migrants. At both the family and individual levels, migrants are disadvantaged on mental health profiles, including a higher prevalence of conduct problems, phobic fears, and early substance use. Conclusions. Positive health selection may contribute to physical health advantages among Mexican immigrants in the U.S. relative to their U.S.-born descendants. Mental health advantages likely reflect a lower prevalence of psychiatric disorders in Mexico, rather than protective factors that distinguish migrants. © 2011 Association of Schools of Public Health.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

educational status immigrant phobia psychological aspect alcohol consumption demography health survey mental health human comorbidity middle aged statistics pain Substance-Related Disorders health status priority journal comparative study substance abuse Health Surveys Aged ethnology Mexico physical disease Mental Disorders childhood mental disease United States Humans smoking Hispanic Adolescent male asthma female Aged, 80 and over risk factor Risk Factors prevalence Article Retrospective Studies allergy major clinical study adult health education migration child health care Models, Statistical addiction statistical model Transients and Migrants retrospective study family assessment body height Healthcare Disparities Fear health care disparity Mexican Americans Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-79957860761&doi=10.1177%2f003335491112600310&partnerID=40&md5=f7bd7e702f4d83be33abecfd5be1f57d
DOI: 10.1177/003335491112600310
ISSN: 00333549
Cited by: 21
Original Language: English