The "healthy migrant" effect

Minn Med. 2007 Mar;90(3):51-3.

Abstract

In many ways, first-generation immigrants to the United States are healthier than people of similar ethnic backgrounds who were born in this country. However, overtime, the newcomers' health advantages diminish dramatically. This article discusses factors that contribute to the deterioration of immigrants' health: poverty, living in substandard housing, not having access to medical care, adoption of an American diet, smoking, and substance abuse.

MeSH terms

  • Acculturation
  • Emigration and Immigration / statistics & numerical data*
  • Feeding Behavior
  • Health Behavior
  • Health Services Accessibility / statistics & numerical data
  • Health Status Indicators*
  • Housing / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Life Expectancy / trends
  • Life Style
  • Mental Health / statistics & numerical data
  • Minnesota
  • Morbidity / trends
  • Poverty / statistics & numerical data
  • Statistics as Topic
  • United States