Unraveling the Healthy Immigrant Paradox: The Impact of Inclusion on Immigrant Health Outcomes in the United States

Samantha Chapa and Jeronimo Cortina

Social Science Quarterly, 2025, vol. 106, issue 3

Abstract: Objective Prior work finds that immigrants typically arrive in the United States with better health than native‐born Americans but that their good health deteriorates over time due to a confluence of factors, such as distress and exposure to new, unhealthier lifestyles. Our work addresses this “Healthy Immigrant Paradox” and demonstrates the link between feelings of immigrant inclusion and perceived general health, suggesting that inclusive conditions may countervail deteriorating health across immigrant communities as they integrate into American society. Method Through a series of multilevel models and inverse‐probability‐weighted regression models, we analyze data from the Kaiser Family Foundation on healthcare, perceived health, and feelings of immigrant inclusion across a racially and geographically representative sample of immigrants in the United States. Results We find a positive association between immigrant inclusion and favorable health outcomes. Conclusion Through the analysis, we highlight the importance of analyzing the contextual determinants shaping immigrant health outcomes.

Date: 2025
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