American Journal of Public Health
Volume 98, Issue 11, 2008, Pages 2058-2064

Health selection among new immigrants (Article)

Akresh I.R. , Frank R.*
  • a University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL, United States
  • b Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States, Ohio State University, Department of Sociology, 300 Bricker Hall, Columbus, OH 43210, United States

Abstract

Objectives. We sought to quantify the extent of health selection (i.e., the degree towhich potential immigrants migrate, or fail tomigrate, on the basis of their health status) among contemporary US immigrant groups and evaluate the degree that selection explains variation in self-rated health among US legal permanent residents. Methods. Data came from the New Immigrant Survey 2003 cohort. We estimated the extent of positive and negative health selection through a unique series of questions asking immigrants in the United States to evaluate their health and compare it to that of citizens in their country of origin. Results. The extent of positive health selection differed significantly across immigrant groups and was related to compositional differences in the socioeconomic profiles of immigrant streams. Conclusions. The salience of socioeconomic status and English-language ability in explaining health differentials across immigrant groups reinforces the importance of further research on the role of these factors in contributing to the health of immigrants above and beyond the need for additional attention to the health selection process.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

immigrant Europe, Eastern Australia psychological aspect Europe human middle aged Asia statistics Cohort Studies controlled study health status Eastern Europe Health Surveys health care distribution language ethnology algorithm Algorithms United States social status Humans classification male Emigrants and Immigrants Acculturation South America female Socioeconomic Factors Multivariate Analysis Africa socioeconomics self concept cultural factor Article adult migration New Zealand outcome assessment Models, Statistical cohort analysis Choice Behavior Emigration and Immigration statistical model social class decision making citizenship attitude to health health survey

Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-55249127534&doi=10.2105%2fAJPH.2006.100974&partnerID=40&md5=1d1d469a3fccbea1126599f5386f5925

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2006.100974
ISSN: 00900036
Cited by: 115
Original Language: English