Full Citation
Title: (Un)Healthy Immigrant Citizens: Naturalization and Activity Limitations in Older Age
Citation Type: Journal Article
Publication Year: 2013
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Abstract: This research argues that immigrants political, social, and economic incorporation experiences, which are embedded in individual life course trajectories and heavily influenced by governmental policies, play an important role in producing diverse health outcomes among older U.S. foreign-born persons. Using data from the 20082010 American Community Survey and 19982010 Integrated Health Interview Series, we demonstrate how naturalization, a key indicator of social and political inclusion, is related to functional health in midlife and older age. Consistent with the theoretical framework, we find that among those foreign-born who immigrated as children and young adults, naturalized citizens show better health at older ages compared with noncitizens, although this relationship is partly mediated by education. But among those older foreign-born who immigrated at middle and older ages, naturalized citizens report worse health compared with noncitizens. Moreover, this negative health selection into naturalization becomes stronger for those naturalizing after the 1996 Welfare Reform Act.
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Authors: Bean, Frank D.; Gubernskaya, Zoya; Van Hook, Jennifer
Periodical (Full): Journal of health and social behavior
Issue: 4
Volume: 54
Pages: 427-443
Data Collections: IPUMS USA, IPUMS Health Surveys - NHIS
Topics: Health, Migration and Immigration
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