We use a subset of Hispanics from the New Immigrant Survey, a nationally representative data set on immigrants recently granted legal permanent residency (n = 2245), to examine whether the relationship between assimilation and health is modified by neighborhood disadvantage and, in doing so, carry out an empirical test of the segmented assimilation hypothesis. Results indicate that assimilation in the least disadvantaged neighborhoods can be protective against poor health. Specifically, more assimilated men and women in the lowest disadvantage neighborhoods have a lower likelihood of self-reported poorer health and being overweight, respectively; no link was found in higher disadvantage neighborhoods. Assimilation was not found to be associated with self-reported health for women or BMI for men, regardless of neighborhood disadvantage level. Overall, we find some evidence supporting the hypothesis that the effects of assimilation on health depend on the context in which immigrants experience it. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd.

Immigrant health Segmented assimilation Assimilation Neighborhood disadvantage

immigrant demography poverty health disparity Health Status Disparities human Self Report middle aged Overweight statistics and numerical data protection obesity health status Health Surveys ethnology Hispanic Americans neighborhood Residence Characteristics United States Humans migrant Hispanic male Emigrants and Immigrants empirical research Acculturation female cultural factor Article integration adult Protective Factors Poverty Areas body mass womens health public health health survey