Background: Research has established that Hispanic immigrants experience better health outcomes than their US-born counterparts. However, it is unclear whether the immigrant advantage holds for mental health. The purpose of this study is to examine mental health disparities by nativity status in an underserved Hispanic population along the southern border.
Methods: We collected data (N=713, weighted 733,644 adults) in four counties (90% Hispanic) along the Texas-Mexico border from March through August 2018 utilizing a dual-frame sampling design (random-digit dial telephone survey and field survey in randomly-selected colonias). We assessed several mental health outcomes (depression, anxiety, poor mental health days, PTSD symptomology). We estimated multivariate regressions to examine the association between nativity status and each outcome, controlling for individual characteristics, perceived discrimination, material hardship, adverse childhood experiences, and social support. We employed Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition to determine whether differences in mental health outcomes by nativity are attributable to differences in sociodemographic characteristics, social support, or other stressors.
Results: Two-fifths of participants were foreign-born. Forty-five percent lacked healthcare coverage, 30% had not completed high school, and 22% had household incomes
Conclusion: This study extends the Hispanic paradox to mental health with findings supporting an immigrant advantage in mental health outcomes. However, this advantage is mitigated by duration of residence and structural inequalities
