Revisiting the Immigrant Epidemiological Paradox: Findings from the American Panel of Life 2019

Hans Oh, Jessica Goehring, Louis Jacob and Lee Smith
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Hans Oh: Suzanne Dworak Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, 1149 Hill Street Suite #1422, Los Angeles, CA 90015, USA
Jessica Goehring: Suzanne Dworak Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, 1149 Hill Street Suite #1422, Los Angeles, CA 90015, USA
Louis Jacob: Research and Development Unit, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, CIBERSAM, Dr. Antoni Pujadas, 42, Sant Boi de Llobregat, 08830 Barcelona, Spain
Lee Smith: The Cambridge Centre for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge CB1 1PT, UK

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 9, 1-6

Abstract: Objective: Immigrants enjoy a health advantage over their US-born counterparts (termed the immigrant paradox), though the extent of this paradox may not extend to all health outcomes. Methods: We analyzed data from the RAND American Life Panel. Using multivariable logistic regression, we examined the associations between immigrant status and a wide range of health outcomes (e.g., cardiovascular diseases, mental health), adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics. Results: Being an immigrant was associated with lower odds of having any health condition, multimorbidity, and number of health conditions. When looking at specific conditions, however, immigrant status was only significantly associated with lower odds of depression, nerve problem causing numbness or pain, and obesity, but not other conditions. Conclusion: The immigrant paradox is evident when examining overall health, and specifically depression, nerve problems, and obesity.

Keywords: immigrant; paradox; health advantage; health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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