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The Consequences of Migration to the United States for Short-Term Changes in the Health of Mexican Immigrants

Author(s): Goldman, Noreen; Pebley, Anne R; Creighton, Mathew J; Teruel, Graciela M; Rubalcava, Luis N; et al

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Abstract: Although many studies have attempted to examine the consequences of Mexico-U.S. migration for Mexican immigrants’ health, few have had adequate data to generate the appropriate comparisons. In this article, we use data from two waves of the Mexican Family Life Survey (MxFLS) to compare the health of current migrants from Mexico with those of earlier migrants and nonmigrants. Because the longitudinal data permit us to examine short-term changes in health status subsequent to the baseline survey for current migrants and for Mexican residents, as well as to control for the potential health selectivity of migrants, the results provide a clearer picture of the consequences of immigration for Mexican migrant health than have previous studies. Our findings demonstrate that current migrants are more likely to experience recent changes in health status— both improvements and declines—than either earlier migrants or nonmigrants. The net effect, however, is a decline in health for current migrants: compared with never migrants, the health of current migrants is much more likely to have declined in the year or two since migration and not significantly more likely to have improved. Thus, it appears that the migration process itself and/or the experiences of the immediate post-migration period detrimentally affect Mexican immigrants’ health.
Publication Date: Aug-2014
Electronic Publication Date: 1-May-2014
Citation: Goldman, Noreen, Pebley, Anne R, Creighton, Mathew J, Teruel, Graciela M, Rubalcava, Luis N, Chung, Chang. "The Consequences of Migration to the United States for Short-Term Changes in the Health of Mexican Immigrants" Demography, (4), 51, 1159 - 1173, doi:10.1007/s13524-014-0304-y
DOI: doi:10.1007/s13524-014-0304-y
ISSN: 0070-3370
EISSN: 1533-7790
Pages: 1159 - 1173
Type of Material: Journal Article
Journal/Proceeding Title: Demography
Version: This is the author’s final manuscript. All rights reserved to author(s).



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