IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v10y2013i5p1786-1814d25441.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Hispanic Paradox and Older Adults’ Disabilities: Is There a Healthy Migrant Effect?

Author

Listed:
  • Esme Fuller Thomson

    (Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto 246 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1, Canada)

  • Amani Nuru-Jeter

    (School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, CA 94720, USA)

  • Dawn Richardson

    (College of Urban and Public Affairs, Portland State University, Portland, OR 97201, USA)

  • Ferrah Raza

    (Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto 246 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1, Canada)

  • Meredith Minkler

    (School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, CA 94720, USA)

Abstract

The “Hispanic Paradox” suggests that despite rates of poverty similar to African Americans, Hispanics have far better health and mortality outcomes, more comparable to non-Hispanic White Americans. Three prominent possible explanations for the Hispanic Paradox have emerged. The “Healthy Migrant Effect” suggests a health selection effect due to the demands of migration. The Hispanic lifestyle hypothesis focuses on Hispanics’ strong social ties and better health behaviors. The reverse migration argument suggests that the morbidity profile in the USA is affected when many Hispanic immigrants return to their native countries after developing a serious illness. We analyzed data from respondents aged 55 and over from the nationally representative 2006 American Community Survey including Mexican Americans (13,167 U.S. born; 11,378 immigrants), Cuban Americans (314 U.S. born; 3,730 immigrants), and non-Hispanic White Americans (629,341 U.S. born; 31,164 immigrants). The healthy migrant effect was supported with SES-adjusted disability comparable between Mexican, Cuban and non-Hispanic Whites born in the USA and all immigrants having lower adjusted odds of functional limitations than U.S. born non-Hispanic Whites. The reverse migration hypothesis was partially supported, with citizenship and longer duration in the USA associated with higher rates of SES-adjusted disability for Mexican Americans. The Hispanic healthy life-style explanation had little support in this study. Our findings underline the importance of considering nativity when planning for health interventions to address the needs of the growing Hispanic American older adult population.

Suggested Citation

  • Esme Fuller Thomson & Amani Nuru-Jeter & Dawn Richardson & Ferrah Raza & Meredith Minkler, 2013. "The Hispanic Paradox and Older Adults’ Disabilities: Is There a Healthy Migrant Effect?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-29, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:10:y:2013:i:5:p:1786-1814:d:25441
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/10/5/1786/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/10/5/1786/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Verbrugge, Lois M. & Jette, Alan M., 1994. "The disablement process," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 38(1), pages 1-14, January.
    2. Gordon-Larsen, Penny & Harris, Kathleen Mullan & Ward, Dianne S. & Popkin, Barry M., 2003. "Acculturation and overweight-related behaviors among Hispanic immigrants to the US: the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 57(11), pages 2023-2034, December.
    3. Abraído-Lanza, A.F. & Dohrenwend, B.P. & Ng-Mak, D.S. & Turner, J.B., 1999. "The Latino mortality paradox: A test of the 'salmon bias' and healthy migrant hypotheses," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 89(10), pages 1543-1548.
    4. Smith, D.P. & Bradshaw, B.S., 2006. "Rethinking the Hispanic paradox: Death rates and life expectancy for US non-Hispanic White and Hispanic populations," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 96(9), pages 1686-1692.
    5. Rubalcava, L.N. & Teruel, G.M. & Thomas, D. & Goldman, N., 2008. "The healthy migrant effect: New findings from the Mexican Family Life Survey," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 98(1), pages 78-84.
    6. Crimmins, E.M. & Kim, J.K. & Alley, D.E. & Karlamangla, A. & Seeman, T., 2007. "Hispanic paradox in biological risk profiles," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 97(7), pages 1305-1310.
    7. Guendelman, S. & Abrams, B., 1995. "Dietary intake among Mexican-American women: Generational differences and a comparison with White non-Hispanic women," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 85(1), pages 20-25.
    8. Viruell-Fuentes, Edna A., 2007. "Beyond acculturation: Immigration, discrimination, and health research among Mexicans in the United States," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 65(7), pages 1524-1535, October.
    9. Perez-Stable, E.J. & Marin, G. & VanOss Marin, B., 1994. "Behavioral risk factors: A comparison of Latinos and non-Latino whites in San Francisco," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 84(6), pages 971-976.
    10. Cassio Turra & Irma Elo, 2008. "The Impact of Salmon Bias on the Hispanic Mortality Advantage: New Evidence from Social Security Data," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 27(5), pages 515-530, October.
    11. González, H.M. & Ceballos, M. & Tarraf, W. & West, B.T. & Bowen, M.E. & Vega, W.A., 2009. "The health of older Mexican Americans in the long run," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 99(10), pages 1879-1885.
    12. Alberto Palloni & Elizabeth Arias, 2004. "Paradox lost: Explaining the hispanic adult mortality advantage," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 41(3), pages 385-415, August.
    13. Solis, J.M. & Marks, G. & Garcia, M. & Shelton, D., 1990. "II. Acculturation, access to care, and use of preventive services by Hispanics: Findings from HHANES 1982-84," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 80(SUPPL.), pages 11-19.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Senhu Wang & Shuanglong Li, 2019. "Exploring Generational Differences of British Ethnic Minorities in Smoking Behavior, Frequency of Alcohol Consumption, and Dietary Style," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-12, June.
    2. Manka Nkimbeng & Alvine Akumbom & Marianne Granbom & Sarah L. Szanton & Tetyana P. Shippee & Roland J. Thorpe & Joseph E. Gaugler, 2022. "Where to Retire? Experiences of Older African Immigrants in the United States," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-17, January.
    3. Jean Chang & Mignonne C. Guy & Cecilia Rosales & Jill G. de Zapien & Lisa K. Staten & Maria L. Fernandez & Scott C. Carvajal, 2013. "Investigating Social Ecological Contributors to Diabetes within Hispanics in an Underserved U.S.-Mexico Border Community," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-16, July.
    4. Javier Casillas-Clot & Pamela Pereyra-Zamora & Andreu Nolasco, 2021. "Determinants of Disability in Minority Populations in Spain: A Nationwide Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-12, March.
    5. Mathudara Phaiyarom & Nareerut Pudpong & Rapeepong Suphanchaimat & Watinee Kunpeuk & Sataporn Julchoo & Pigunkaew Sinam, 2020. "Outcomes of the Health Insurance Card Scheme on Migrants’ Use of Health Services in Ranong Province, Thailand," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-15, June.
    6. Cuihong Long & Jiajun Han & Yong Liu, 2020. "Has Rural-Urban Migration Promoted the Health of Chinese Migrant Workers?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-22, February.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Fenelon, Andrew, 2013. "Revisiting the Hispanic mortality advantage in the United States: The role of smoking," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 1-9.
    2. Fernando Riosmena & Rebeca Wong & Alberto Palloni, 2013. "Migration Selection, Protection, and Acculturation in Health: A Binational Perspective on Older Adults," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 50(3), pages 1039-1064, June.
    3. Touma, Fatima & Hummer, Robert A., 2022. "Race/ethnicity, immigrant generation, and physiological dysregulation among U.S. adults entering midlife," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 314(C).
    4. Daniel Powers, 2013. "Paradox Revisited: A Further Investigation of Racial/Ethnic Differences in Infant Mortality by Maternal Age," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 50(2), pages 495-520, April.
    5. Hiram Beltrán-Sánchez & Alberto Palloni & Fernando Riosmena & Rebeca Wong, 2016. "SES Gradients Among Mexicans in the United States and in Mexico: A New Twist to the Hispanic Paradox?," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 53(5), pages 1555-1581, October.
    6. Fernando Riosmena & Randall Kuhn & Warren C. Jochem, 2017. "Explaining the Immigrant Health Advantage: Self-selection and Protection in Health-Related Factors Among Five Major National-Origin Immigrant Groups in the United States," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 54(1), pages 175-200, February.
    7. Creighton, Mathew J. & Goldman, Noreen & Pebley, Anne R. & Chung, Chang Y., 2012. "Durational and generational differences in Mexican immigrant obesity: Is acculturation the explanation?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 75(2), pages 300-310.
    8. David M. Cutler & Adriana Lleras-Muney & Tom Vogl, 2008. "Socioeconomic Status and Health: Dimensions and Mechanisms," NBER Working Papers 14333, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    9. Erika Arenas & Noreen Goldman & Anne Pebley & Graciela Teruel, 2015. "Return Migration to Mexico: Does Health Matter?," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 52(6), pages 1853-1868, December.
    10. Wallace, Matthew & Kulu, Hill, 2014. "Low immigrant mortality in England and Wales: A data artefact?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 100-109.
    11. Lariscy, Joseph, 2011. "Differential Record Linkage by Hispanic Ethnicity and Age in Linked Mortality Studies: Implications for the Epidemiologic Paradox," SocArXiv tw9a4, Center for Open Science.
    12. Christina J. Diaz & Stephanie M. Koning & Ana P. Martinez-Donate, 2016. "Moving Beyond Salmon Bias: Mexican Return Migration and Health Selection," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 53(6), pages 2005-2030, December.
    13. Abraído-Lanza, Ana F. & Chao, Maria T. & Flórez, Karen R., 2005. "Do healthy behaviors decline with greater acculturation?: Implications for the Latino mortality paradox," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 61(6), pages 1243-1255, September.
    14. John Gibson & Steven Stillman & David McKenzie & Halahingano Rohorua, 2013. "Natural Experiment Evidence On The Effect Of Migration On Blood Pressure And Hypertension," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 22(6), pages 655-672, June.
    15. Ullmann, S. Heidi & Goldman, Noreen & Massey, Douglas S., 2011. "Healthier before they migrate, less healthy when they return? The health of returned migrants in Mexico," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 73(3), pages 421-428, August.
    16. Ilyana Kuziemko & Katherine Meckel & Maya Rossin-Slater, 2013. "Do Insurers Risk-Select Against Each Other? Evidence from Medicaid and Implications for Health Reform," NBER Working Papers 19198, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    17. Mathieu Ichou & Matthew Wallace, 2019. "The Healthy Immigrant Effect: The role of educational selectivity in the good health of migrants," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 40(4), pages 61-94.
    18. Néstor Aldea & Dariya Ordanovich & Alberto Palloni & Diego Ramiro & Francisco Viciana, 2023. "Influence of Place of Birth on Adult Mortality: The Case of Spain," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 39(1), pages 1-22, December.
    19. Mark Hayward & Robert Hummer & Chi-Tsun Chiu & César González-González & Rebeca Wong, 2014. "Does the Hispanic Paradox in U.S. Adult Mortality Extend to Disability?," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 33(1), pages 81-96, February.
    20. Van Hook, Jennifer & Baker, Elizabeth & Altman, Claire E. & Frisco, Michelle L., 2012. "Canaries in a coalmine: Immigration and overweight among Mexican-origin children in the US and Mexico," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 74(2), pages 125-134.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:10:y:2013:i:5:p:1786-1814:d:25441. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.