Household Composition and Longitudinal Health Outcomes for Older Mexican Return Migrants. (April 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mudrazija, Stipica; López-Ortega, Mariana; Vega, William A.; Gutiérrez Robledo, Luis Miguel; Sribney, William
• Other Names: Wong Rebeca guest-editor.; Angel Jacqueline L. guest-editor.; Riosmena Fernando guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Research on aging. Volume 38:Number 3(2016:May)
• Page Start: 346
• Page End: 373
• Publication Date: 2016-04
• Subjects: return migrants -- older adults -- family ties -- health trajectory -- informal helpers -- MHAS; Old age -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- United States -- Periodicals; 305.2605
• DOI: 10.1177/0164027515620241
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0164-0275

Abstract

Mexican return migrant population is increasing, yet our knowledge about their lives after resettlement in Mexico remains fragmentary. Using 2001–2012 longitudinal data from the Mexican Health and Aging Study, we investigate difference in household composition for older migrants who returned from the United States compared to nonmigrants. Furthermore, we fit a Cox proportional hazards model to assess the relationship between household composition and health and functional trajectories of return migrants and nonmigrants. The results indicate that return migrants with long duration of U.S. stay have different household composition than nonmigrants or short-term migrants: On average, they have smaller household size, including fewer females who may be available to offer assistance to older adults. Presence of middle-age females in the household has positive effects on health and functional trajectories. We highlight implications of this research for policy makers in Mexico and the United States.