Examining the gender, ethnicity, and age dimensions of the healthy immigrant effect: Factors in the development of equitable health policy
Date
2012-02-16
Authors
Kobayashi, Karen
Prus, Steven G
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BioMed Central
Abstract
Abstract
This study expands on previous research on the healthy immigrant effect (HIE) in Canada by considering the effects
of both immigrant and visible minority status on self-rated health for males and females in mid-(45-64) and later
life (65+). The findings reveal a strong HIE among new immigrant middle-aged men, particularly non-Whites. For
older men of color the reality is strikingly different: they are disadvantaged in health compared to their Canadianborn
counterparts, even when a number of demographic, economic, and lifestyle factors are controlled. Health
outcomes for immigrant women are in contrast to that of immigrant men. Among middle-aged women,
immigrants, regardless of their ethnicity or number of years since immigration, are much more likely to report poor
health compared to the Canadian-born. And, for older women, recent non-white immigrants are more likely to
report better health compared to Canadian-born women, although this finding is explained by differences in
demographic, economic, and lifestyle factors. Overall, the findings demonstrate the importance of considering the
intersections of age, gender, and ethnicity for policymakers in assessing the health of immigrants.
Description
BioMed Central
Keywords
Citation
Kobayashi, K., & Prus, S. (2012). Examining the gender, ethnicity, and age dimensions of the healthy immigrant effect: Factors in the development of equitable health policy. International Journal for Equity in Health, 11(1), 8