Abstract
Background
In the United States, immigration policy is entwined with health policy,
and immigrants’ legal statuses determine their access to care. Yet, policy
debates rarely take into account the health needs of immigrants and potential
health consequences of linking legal status to healthcare. Confounding from
social and demographic differences and lack of individual-level data with
sensitive immigration variables present challenges in this area of
research.
Methods
This article used the restricted California Health Interview Survey (CHIS)
to assess differences in self-rated health, obesity, and severe psychological
distress. Between US-born citizens, naturalised citizens, lawful permanent
residents (LPR), undocumented immigrants, and temporary visa holders living in
California.
Results
Results show that while immigrant groups appear to have poorer health on
the surface, these differences were explained predominantly by older age among
naturalised citizens and by lower-income and education among LPRs and
undocumented immigrants. Favourable family characteristics acted as protective
factors for immigrants’ health, especially among disadvantaged
immigrants.
Conclusion
Immigration policy that limits access to healthcare and family support may
further widen the health disadvantage among immigrants with less legal
protection.
Funder
Eunice Kennedy
Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human
Development
Subject
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health,Epidemiology
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