Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
956098 Social Science Research 2011 15 Pages PDF
Abstract

Nativity differences in youths’ health in the United States are striking—the children of foreign-born parents often have healthier outcomes than those of native-born parents. However, very little is known about how immigrant-native differences evolve within the same individuals over time, or about life cycle aspects of the health-related integration of youth with migration backgrounds. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, I examine nativity differences in trajectories of weight gain during adolescence and early adulthood, as well as the degree to which temporal patterns are stratified by race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status. I examine whether nativity differences converge, diverge or remain stable over time, and whether patterns are socially stratified within and across nativity groups. I find that first-generation adolescents begin at a lower weight than their third generation peers and gain weight at a significantly slower pace, resulting in meaningful differences by early adulthood. More complex examination of the relationship between nativity and weight gain reveals additional differences by ethnicity: the foreign-born advantage over time does not extend as strongly to Hispanic adolescents. The findings demonstrate how the health-related integration of foreign-born youth is tied to race/ethnicity and socioeconomic circumstances, and suggest the need to examine the ways in which social circumstances and health change together.

► I examine nativity differences in trajectories of weight gain during adolescence/early adulthood. ► I examine how temporal patterns are stratified by race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status. ► First-generation adolescents begin at a lower weight than their peers and gain weight slower. ► The foreign-born advantage over time does not extend as strongly to Hispanic adolescents.

Related Topics
Social Sciences and Humanities Psychology Social Psychology
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