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Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Published in: Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health 5/2013

01-10-2013 | Original Paper

Does the Healthy Immigrant Effect Extend to Anxiety Disorders? Evidence from a Nationally Representative Study

Authors: Mary Aglipay, Ian Colman, Yue Chen

Published in: Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health | Issue 5/2013

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Abstract

It is currently unknown whether the healthy immigrant effect applies to anxiety disorders. To assess the association between immigrant identity and anxiety disorders, data from 116,796 adults who participated in the nationally representative 2007–2008 Canadian Community Health Survey were analyzed and potential confounders were controlled by using logistic regression models. Compared to the Canadian-born, recent immigrants had a reduced odds of anxiety disorders in the 18–39 year age group (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.19, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.13, 0.26) and the 40–59 year age group (aOR = 0.26, 95 % CI 0.17, 0.40). Immigrants arriving 10 or more years ago also had a reduced odds of anxiety disorders compared with native born Canadians, but to a lesser extent (18–39: aOR = 0.41, 95 % CI 0.32, 0.53; 40–59: aOR = 0.76, 95 % CI 0.64, 0.90). There was a healthy immigrant effect on anxiety disorders among working age Canadians.
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Metadata
Title
Does the Healthy Immigrant Effect Extend to Anxiety Disorders? Evidence from a Nationally Representative Study
Authors
Mary Aglipay
Ian Colman
Yue Chen
Publication date
01-10-2013
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health / Issue 5/2013
Print ISSN: 1557-1912
Electronic ISSN: 1557-1920
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-012-9677-4

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