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- Title
The American Dream: Is Immigration Associated with Life Satisfaction for Latinos of Mexican Descent?
- Authors
Mays, Vickie M.; Becerra, Rosina; Cochran, Susan D.
- Abstract
The Latino population is one of the largest immigrant groups in the United States, with the majority being of Mexican descent. Whether immigrating to the US is positive for the well-being of Mexican immigrants and future generations is an important question. We examined how nativity status and quality of life indicators relate to life satisfaction among foreign-born and US-born Mexican descent Latinos living in California. Participants (N = 893) were from the California Quality of Life Survey, a population-based mental health survey of the California population. Multiple regressions examining sociodemographic and indicators of life satisfaction found higher life satisfaction among the foreign-born compared to US-born: (US-born first generation: Wald F = 18.70, p < 0.001; US-born second generation and higher: Wald F = 12.09, p < 0.001), females (Wald F = 7.05, p < 0.01), and individuals reporting more social support (Wald F = 40.20, p < 0.001), absence of frequent distress (Wald F = 41.46, p < 0.001), and better physical health (Wald F = 15.28, p < 0.001). Life satisfaction was lower for US-born Mexicans than for Mexican immigrants. Research, interventions, and policies are needed for mental health equity that address this lack of well-being in US-born Mexican Latinos.
- Subjects
UNITED States; COMPETENCY assessment (Law); IMMIGRANTS; MEXICAN Americans; SOCIAL support; HEALTH services accessibility; MULTIPLE regression analysis; SATISFACTION; SURVEYS; COMPARATIVE studies; QUALITY of life; RESEARCH funding; SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC factors; SOCIAL responsibility
- Publication
Healthcare (2227-9032), 2023, Vol 11, Issue 18, p2495
- ISSN
2227-9032
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3390/healthcare11182495