American Journal of Public Health
Volume 109, Issue 12, 2019, Pages 1733-1738

Relevance of the “immigrant health paradox” for the health of Arab Americans in California (Article)

Abuelezam N.N.* , El-Sayed A.M. , Galea S.
  • a William F. Connell School of Nursing, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, United States
  • b University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, United States
  • c School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States

Abstract

Objectives. To assess the validity of the immigrant health paradox among Arab Americans in California. Methods. We used data from the 2003 to 2017 California Health Interview Survey (n = 1425). We used survey-weighted c2 and logistic regression analyses to compare Arabs by immigrant generation on socioeconomic indicators, health behaviors, and health outcomes. Results. Second-generation Arab Americans had higher odds of binge drinking (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 3.26; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.53, 6.94) in the past year than did first-generation Arab Americans. Third-generation Arab Americans had greater odds of receiving the influenza vaccine in the past year (AOR = 3.29; 95% CI = 1.09, 9.98) than did second-generation Arab Americans. Third-generation Arab Americans had increased odds of being overweight or obese when compared with first- (AOR = 2.59; 95% CI = 1.02, 6.58) and second-generation Arab Americans (AOR = 3.22; 95% CI = 1.25, 8.29), respectively. Conclusions. Alcohol use increased across immigrant generations, and we observed no differences in health outcomes, other than obesity. The immigrant health paradox does not appear to apply to Arab Americans in California; mechanisms that generate health in this population should be studied further. © 2019 American Public Health Association Inc.. All rights reserved.

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Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85074674275&doi=10.2105%2fAJPH.2019.305308&partnerID=40&md5=5fcfa126d57b7eeb4953e4470910e541

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2019.305308
ISSN: 00900036
Original Language: English