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Mental health assimilation of Australian immigrants

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  • Janisch, Laura M.

Abstract

Mental diseases are a widespread phenomenon and trigger massive direct and indirect costs. Using Australian household survey data this study analyzes assimilation of immigrants' mental health over time. Therefore, this study contributes to the literature since previous literature has focused primarily on the assimilation of immigrants' physical health status. We find that the probability of suffering from poor mental health increases with time since migration. In addition, female immigrants display a 4 percentage points lower risk of suffering from poor mental health when entering the country. Furthermore, immigrants with English as mother tongue have a lower likelihood of suffering from poor mental health when compared to their counterparts with non-English mother tongues.

Suggested Citation

  • Janisch, Laura M., 2017. "Mental health assimilation of Australian immigrants," Ruhr Economic Papers 728, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:rwirep:728
    DOI: 10.4419/86788848
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    Cited by:

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    2. Xin Meng & Sen Xue, 2020. "Social networks and mental health outcomes: Chinese rural–urban migrant experience," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 33(1), pages 155-195, January.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    immigration; mental health; assimilation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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