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AJPH First Look, published online ahead of print Aug 20, 2009
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October 2009, Vol 99, No. 10 | American Journal of Public Health 1879-1885
© 2009 American Public Health Association
DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2008.133744

RESEARCH AND PRACTICE

The Health of Older Mexican Americans in the Long Run

Hector M. González, PhD, Miguel Ceballos, PhD, Wassim Tarraf, MA, Brady T. West, MA, Mary E. Bowen, PhD and William A. Vega, PhD

Hector M. González, Wassim Tarraf, and Mary E. Bowen are with the Institute of Gerontology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI. Miguel Ceballos is with the Department of Sociology and the Institute for Ethnic Studies, University of Nebraska, Lincoln. Brady T. West is with the Center for Statistical Consultation and Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. William A. Vega is with the Department of Family Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles.

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Hector M. González, PhD, Wayne State University, Institute of Gerontology, 234 Knapp Bldg, Detroit, MI, 48202 (hmgonzalez{at}med.wayne.edu).

Objectives. We compared risk for several medical illnesses between immigrant and US-born older Mexican Americans to determine the relationship between functional health and years of US residency among immigrants.

Methods. Cross-sectional, multistage probability sample data for 3050 Mexican Americans aged 65 years or older from 5 US southwestern states were analyzed. Self-rated health, medical illnesses, and functional measures were examined in multivariate regression models that included nativity and years of US residency as key predictors.

Results. Self-rated health and medical illnesses of immigrant and US-born groups did not differ significantly. Immigrants with longer US residency had significantly higher cognitive functioning scores and fewer problems with functional activities after adjustment for predisposing and medical need factors.

Conclusions. Among older Mexican Americans, immigrant health advantages over their US-born counterparts were not apparent. Immigrants had better health functioning with longer US residency that may derive from greater socioeconomic resources. Our findings suggest that the negative acculturation–health relationship found among younger immigrant adults may become a positive relationship in later life.






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