Journal article
Moving Beyond Salmon Bias: Mexican Return Migration and Health Selection
Demography, v 53(6), pp 2005-2030
Dec 2016
PMID: 27848222
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Despite having lower levels of education and limited access to health care services, Mexican immigrants report better health outcomes than U.S.-born individuals. Research suggests that the Mexican health advantage may be partially attributable to selective return migration among less healthy migrants-often referred to as "salmon bias." Our study takes advantage of a rare opportunity to observe the health status of Mexican-origin males as they cross the Mexican border. To assess whether unhealthy migrants are disproportionately represented among those who return, we use data from two California-based studies: the California Health Interview Survey; and the Migrante Study, a survey that samples Mexican migrants entering and leaving the United States through Tijuana. We pool these data sources to look for evidence of health-related return migration. Results provide mixed support for salmon bias. Although migrants who report health limitations and frequent stress are more likely to return, we find little evidence that chronic conditions and self-reported health are associated with higher probabilities of return. Results also provide some indication that limited health care access increases the likelihood of return among the least healthy. This study provides new theoretical considerations of return migration and further elucidates the relationship between health and migration decisions.
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Details
- Title
- Moving Beyond Salmon Bias: Mexican Return Migration and Health Selection
- Creators
- Christina J Diaz - University of ArizonaStephanie M Koning - University of Wisconsin–MadisonAna P Martinez-Donate - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- Demography, v 53(6), pp 2005-2030
- Publisher
- Springer Nature
- Grant note
- T32 AG000129 / NIA NIH HHS P30 AG017266 / NIA NIH HHS P2C HD047873 / NICHD NIH HHS R01 HD046886 / NICHD NIH HHS
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Community Health and Prevention
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000389347700014
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-84995494450
- Other Identifier
- 991019168614704721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Demography