Research on Aging
Volume 38, Issue 3, 2016, Pages 346-373

Household Composition and Longitudinal Health Outcomes for Older Mexican Return Migrants (Article)

Mudrazija S.* , López-Ortega M. , Vega W.A. , Gutiérrez Robledo L.M. , Sribney W.
  • a Urban Institute, Washington, DC, United States
  • b Instituto Nacional de Geriatría, Mexico City, Mexico
  • c School of Social Work, Edward R. Roybal Institute on Aging, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
  • d Instituto Nacional de Geriatría, Mexico City, Mexico
  • e Third Way Statistics, Dorset, VT, United States

Abstract

Mexican return migrant population is increasing, yet our knowledge about their lives after resettlement in Mexico remains fragmentary. Using 2001–2012 longitudinal data from the Mexican Health and Aging Study, we investigate difference in household composition for older migrants who returned from the United States compared to nonmigrants. Furthermore, we fit a Cox proportional hazards model to assess the relationship between household composition and health and functional trajectories of return migrants and nonmigrants. The results indicate that return migrants with long duration of U.S. stay have different household composition than nonmigrants or short-term migrants: On average, they have smaller household size, including fewer females who may be available to offer assistance to older adults. Presence of middle-age females in the household has positive effects on health and functional trajectories. We highlight implications of this research for policy makers in Mexico and the United States. © 2015, The Author(s) 2015.

Author Keywords

informal helpers MHAS Return migrants Family ties Health trajectory older adults

Index Keywords

household proportional hazards model human middle aged aging controlled study health status ethnology Mexico family size Family Characteristics United States Humans migrant family male female Mexican American adult migration Emigration and Immigration Mexican Americans
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84960383609&doi=10.1177%2f0164027515620241&partnerID=40&md5=e647b98529b66a9218d83a575dae2347
DOI: 10.1177/0164027515620241
ISSN: 01640275
Cited by: 3
Original Language: English