Full Citation
Title: Psychological distress in middle eastern immigrants to the United States: A challenge to the healthy migrant model?
Citation Type: Journal Article
Publication Year: 2021
ISBN:
ISSN: 0277-9536
DOI: 10.1016/J.SOCSCIMED.2021.113765
NSFID:
PMCID:
PMID: 33639394
Abstract: Rationale and objective: Research has documented a robust mental health advantage among Asian and Latino immigrants to the United States relative to the native-born. The current investigation extended this line of research, asking whether Middle Eastern immigrants to the United States enjoy a similar mental health advantage. Methods: Drawing on pooled cross-sections from the 2007–2018 National Health Interview Surveys, we used OLS regression to examine psychological distress in Middle Eastern immigrants relative to both native-born Whites and immigrants from other global regions. We used statistical interactions to assess whether gender and period differences are contingent on region of birth. Results: Findings reveal that the average level of psychological distress is higher among Middle Eastern immigrants than among both U.S.-born Whites and immigrants from other regions. Despite changing circumstances of migration for Middle Easterners and implementation in the United States of anti-immigrant policies, we see no evidence that distress increased more among immigrants compared to native-born Whites. Results point to greater psychological distress among Middle Eastern women than their native-born White counterparts and women from other immigrant groups, as well as Middle Eastern men. In contrast, psychological distress levels for Middle Eastern and native-born White men were indistinguishable, suggesting that the Middle Eastern mental health disadvantage in the United States is borne solely by women. Conclusions: Results show that the mental health advantage enjoyed by some immigrant groups does not extend to Middle Eastern women, contradicting the healthy migrant model and challenging the assumption of a uniform mental health advantage across immigrant groups.
Url: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953621000976
User Submitted?: No
Authors: Bulut, Elif; Brewster, Karin L.
Periodical (Full): Social Science & Medicine
Issue:
Volume: 274
Pages: 1-13
Data Collections: IPUMS Health Surveys - NHIS
Topics: Health, Migration and Immigration
Countries: