Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Does Selective Migration Explain the Hispanic Paradox? A Comparative Analysis of Mexicans in the U.S. and Mexico

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Latino immigrants, particularly Mexican, have some health advantages over U.S.-born Mexicans and Whites. Because of their lower socioeconomic status, this phenomenon has been called the epidemiologic “Hispanic Paradox.” While cultural theories have dominated explanations for the Paradox, the role of selective migration has been inadequately addressed. This study is among the few to combine Mexican and U.S. data to examine health selectivity in activity limitation, self-rated health, and chronic conditions among Mexican immigrants, ages 18 and over. Drawing on theories of selective migration, this study tested the “healthy migrant” and “salmon-bias” hypotheses by comparing the health of Mexican immigrants in the U.S. to non-migrants in Mexico, and to return migrants in Mexico. Results suggest that there are both healthy migrant and salmon-bias effects in activity limitation, but not other health aspects. In fact, consistent with prior research, immigrants are negatively selected on self-rated health. Future research should consider the complexities of migrants’ health profiles and examine selection mechanisms alongside other factors such as acculturation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Chiswick BR, Lee YL, Miller PW. Immigrant selection systems and immigrant health. Contemp Econ Policy. 2008;26(4):555–78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Stirbu I, et al. Cancer mortality rates among first and second generation migrants in the Netherlands: convergence toward the rates of the native Dutch population. Int J Cancer. 2006;119(11):2665–72.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Razum O, et al. Low overall mortality of Turkish residents in Germany persists and extends into a second generation: merely a healthy migrant effect? Trop Med Int Health. 1998;3(4):297–303.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Grieco EM. Race and hispanic origin of the foreign-born population in the United States: 2007. In: American community survey reports. 2010.

  5. Ramirez RR, de la Cruz GP. The Hispanic population in the united states: March 2002. In: Current population reports. 2003.

  6. Markides KS, Coreil J. The health of Hispanics in the southwestern United States: an epidemiologic paradox. Public Health Rep. 1986;101(3):253.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Abraído-Lanza AF, Chao MT, Flórez KR. Do healthy behaviors decline with greater acculturation?: implications for the Latino mortality paradox. Soc Sci Med. 2005;61(6):1243–55.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Arcia E, et al. Models of acculturation and health behaviors among Latino immigrants to the U.S. Soc Sci Med. 2001;53(1):41–53.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Evenson KR, Sarmiento OL, Ayala GX. Acculturation and physical activity among North Carolina Latina immigrants. Soc Sci Med. 2004;59(12):2509–22.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Markides K, et al. Census disability rates among older people by race/ethnicity and type of Hispanic origin. In: Angel JL, Whitfield KE, editors. The health of aging Hispanics. New York: Springer; 2007. p. 26–39.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  11. Rubalcava LN, et al. The healthy migrant effect: new findings from the Mexican Family Life Survey. Am J Public Health. 2008;98(1):78–84.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Feliciano C. Educational selectivity in US immigration: how do immigrants compare to those left behind? Demography. 2005;42(1):131–52.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Jasso G, et al. Immigrant health: selectivity and acculturation. In: Anderson NB, Bulatao RA, Cohen B, editors. Critical perspectives on racial and ethnic differences in health in late life. Washington: The National Academies Press; 2004. p. 227–66.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Palloni A, Arias E. Paradox lost: explaining the Hispanic adult mortality advantage. Demography. 2004;41(3):385–415.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Massey DS. Understanding Mexican migration to the United States. Am J Sociol. 1987;92(6):1372.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Angel RJ, Angel JL, Hill TD. A comparison of the health of older Hispanics in the United States and Mexico: methodological challenges. J Aging Health. 2008;20(1):3–31.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Crimmins EM, et al. Using anthropometric indicators for Mexicans in the United States and Mexico to understand the selection of migrants and the ‘Hispanic paradox’. Soc Biol. 2005;52(3/4):164–177.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Buttenheim A, et al. Do Mexican immigrants “import” social gradients in health behaviors to the US?. Los Angeles: UC Los Angeles California Center for Population Research; 2008.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Franzini L, Fernandez-Esquer ME. Socioeconomic, cultural, and personal influences on health outcomes in low income Mexican-origin individuals in Texas. Soc Sci Med. 2004;59(8):1629–46.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Hummer RA, et al. Paradox found (again): infant mortality among the Mexican-origin population in the United States. Demography. 2007;44(3):441–57.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Durand J, Massey DS, Zenteno RM. Mexican immigration to the United States: continuities and changes. Latin Am Res Rev. 2001;36(1):107–27.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Gregg EW, et al. Relationship of walking to mortality among US adults with diabetes. Arch Intern Med. 2003;163(12):1440–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Hirvensalo M, Rantanen T, Heikkinen E. Mobility difficulties and physical activity as predictors of mortality and loss of independence in the community-living older population. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2000;48(5):493–8.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Benjamins MR, et al. Self-reported health and adult mortality risk: an analysis of cause-specific mortality. Soc Sci Med. 2004;59(6):1297–306.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Idler EL, Benyamini Y. Self-rated health and mortality: a review of twenty-seven community studies. J Health Soc Behav. 1997;38(1):21–37.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Fillenbaum GG, et al. Comorbidity of five chronic health conditions in elderly community residents: determinants and impact on mortality. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2000;55(2):M84–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Rubalcava, Luis and Teruel, Graciela. User’s guide for the Mexican Family Life Survey first wave. 2006. http://www.mxfls.uia.mx.

  28. National Center for Health Statistics. NHIS survey description. Hyattsville: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Zhang W, Ta VM. Social connections, immigration-related factors, and self-rated physical and mental health among Asian Americans. Soc Sci Med. 2009;68(12):2104–12.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Montez JK, Angel JL, Angel RJ. Employment, marriage, and inequality in health insurance for Mexican-origin women. J Health Soc Behav. 2009;50(2):132–48.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Wolff LS, et al. Compared to whom? Subjective social status, self-rated health, and referent group sensitivity in a diverse US sample. Soc Sci Med. 2010;70(12):2019–28.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Hinde A. Demographic methods. New York: Oxford University Press; 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Hosmer DW, Lemeshow S. Applied logistic regression. 2nd ed. Wiley series in probability and statistics. Hoboken: Wiley; 2000.

  34. Krause NM, Jay GM. What do global self-rated health items measure? Med Care. 1994;32(9):930–42.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Fuentes-Afflick E, Hessol NA. Acculturation and body mass among Latina women. J Women’s Health. 2008;17(1):67–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Viruell-Fuentes EA, et al. Language of interview, self-rated health, and the other Latino health puzzle. Am J Public Health. 2011;101(7):1306–13.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Ullmann SH, Goldman N, Massey DS. Healthier before they migrate, less healthy when they return? The health of returned migrants in Mexico. Soc Sci Med. 2011;73(3):421–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Donato KM, Wagner B, Patterson E. The cat and mouse game at the Mexico-U.S. Border: gendered patterns and recent shifts. Int Migr Rev. 2008;42(2):330–59.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Hondagneu-Sotelo P. Overcoming patriarchal constraints: the reconstruction of gender relations among Mexican immigrant women and men. Gend Soc. 1992;6(3):393–415.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Ortiz V. Migration and marriage among Puerto Rican women. Int Migr Rev. 1996;30(2):460–84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Verbrugge LM, Wingard DL. Sex differentials in health and mortality. Women Health. 1987;2(2):103–45.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Gorman BK, Read JG. Gender disparities in adult health: an examination of three measures of morbidity. J Health Soc Behav. 2006;47(2):95–110.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Blue L, Fenelon A. Explaining low mortality among US immigrants relative to native-born Americans: the role of smoking. Int J Epidemiol. 2011;40(3):786–93.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Viruell-Fuentes EA. Beyond acculturation: immigration, discrimination, and health research among Mexicans in the United States. Soc Sci Med. 2007;65(7):1524–35.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Finch BK, et al. The role of discrimination and acculturative stress in the physical health of Mexican-origin adults. Hispanic J Behav Sci. 2001;23(4):399–429.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Garcés I, Scarinci I, Harrison L. An examination of sociocultural factors associated with health and health care seeking among Latina immigrants. J Immigr Minor Health. 2006;8(4):377–85.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Gordon-Larsen P, et al. Acculturation and overweight-related behaviors among Hispanic immigrants to the U.S.: the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Soc Sci Med. 2003;57(11):2023–34.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Sallis JF, et al. Role of built environments in physical activity, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. Circulation. 2012;125(5):729–37.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The author is grateful to the editor and anonymous reviewers, as well as Wang Feng, Rubén Rumbaut, Andrew Noymer, Jen’nan Read, and Christopher Steven Marcum, for their thoughtful comments on earlier drafts. The contents of the article are the sole responsibility of the author. The author also thanks the UC Irvine Department of Sociology and School of Social Sciences. This work was supported by funding from the National Science Foundation (Dissertation Improvement Grant, SES: 0926961), the University of California Office of the President Dissertation Year Award, and the UC Irvine Center for Research for Latinos in Global Society. The author completed the manuscript with support from the UCLA Career Development Program in Cancer Prevention and Control Research (Principal Investigator Roshan Bastani; NIH/NCI, R25CA087949).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cancer Prevention and Control Research, Fielding School of Public Health and Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, 650 Charles Young Drive South, A2-125 CHS, Box 956900, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-6900, USA

    Georgiana Bostean

Authors
  1. Georgiana Bostean
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Georgiana Bostean.

Appendices

Appendix 1

See Table 5.

Table 5 Comparison of measures: U.S. National Health Interview Survey and Mexican Family Life Survey
Full size table

Appendix 2

See Table 6.

Table 6 Selected characteristics of Mexican adults ages 18+, Mexico census 2000
Full size table

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bostean, G. Does Selective Migration Explain the Hispanic Paradox? A Comparative Analysis of Mexicans in the U.S. and Mexico. J Immigrant Minority Health 15, 624–635 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-012-9646-y

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-012-9646-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation