Abstract
A number of studies have shown that immigrants tend to be in better health than their fellow citizens in their host countries, at least during the initial period following their arrival. Our work, a systematic review which brings together the results of 77 empirical research studies on this question, demonstrates that while the “healthy immigrant” effect is usually found in adult immigrants, it is another matter for children and older people. The extent of the healthy immigrant selection effect is also much more significant in terms of mortality than of morbidity. Our analysis suggests that immigrant health policies should not be “one size fits all” in type, but need to take into account both the age of immigrants and also those particular health indicators in terms of which the immigrants are most vulnerable.
Recommended Citation
Vang, Zoua M.; Flenon, Astrid; and Gagnon, Alain
(2015)
"Policy Brief No. 25 - Are Immigrants in Better Health Than Native Canadians?,"
Population Change and Lifecourse Strategic Knowledge Cluster Research/Policy Brief: Vol. 1:
No.
6, Article 10.
Available at:
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/pclc_rpb/vol1/iss6/10