Immigrant Health Paradox

Abstract

Abstract With rising rates of immigration around the globe we have seen increased interest in the socioeconomic situation of immigrants as well as their health status and health care needs, and their impact on the host countries' health care system. Much of the research has focused on immigrants of non‐Western origin to the three traditional immigration destinations—the United States, Canada, and Australia. While earlier research was often focused on the negative impact of immigration on immigrants' health and mental health, research in the last couple decades has consistently found evidence of relatively good health among most immigrants especially “voluntary” immigrants from non‐Western origins to western nations, a finding often referred to as an immigrant health paradox . Most interest in immigrant health in the United States has focused primarily on immigrants from Latin America, especially Mexico. Immigrants tend to have better health and mortality profiles than the native born, especially from the same racial/ethnic group. While there are some exceptions to these findings, which we note in the current entry, the preponderance of evidence indicates that selection processes are pivotal for understanding the paradox. Sociocultural resources have also been implicated; however, most of this line of research is still underdeveloped. In the current investigation we outline (a) foundational research, (b) cutting edge research, and (c) key issues for future research. We argue that better health among immigrants is not necessarily paradoxical. Most “voluntary” immigrants arrive in their country of destination with good health and a positive outlook on life. However, the finding that longer stays in the United States deplete health likely reflects acculturation forces. More research is needed to more adequately capture acculturative stress processes, changes in lifestyle factors (smoking, diet, and exercise), and the sociocultural resources that protect immigrants from being vulnerable to premature mortality.

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