Are you better off? Perceptions of social mobility and satisfaction with care among Latina immigrants in the U.S. (December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mendoza, Sonia; Armbrister, Adria N.; Abraído-Lanza, Ana F.
• Is Part Of: Social science & medicine. Volume 219(2018)
• Page Start: 54
• Page End: 60
• Publication Date: 2018-12
• Subjects: Social mobility -- Latina health -- Satisfaction with care -- Medical mistrust -- Quality of care -- Immigrant health -- Dominicans; Social medicine -- Periodicals; Medical anthropology -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine sociale -- Périodiques; Anthropologie médicale -- Périodiques; Santé publique -- Périodiques; Psychologie -- Périodiques; Médecine -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 362.105
• DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2018.10.014
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0277-9536

Abstract

Abstract: Although the reasons for immigrating to the U.S. vary by Latino groups, many Latinos cite economic or political motivations for their migration. Once in the United States, Latino immigrants may face many challenges, including discrimination and blocked opportunities for social mobility, and difficulties in obtaining health services and quality health care. The purpose of this study was to explore how changes in social mobility from the country of origin to the U.S. may relate to Latina women's health care interactions. We examined whether self-reported social mobility among 419 Latina women immigrants is associated with satisfaction with health care. We also examined the association among social mobility and self-rated health, quality of care, and medical mistrust. Upward social mobility was associated with greater number of years lived in the U.S., and downward social mobility was associated with more years of education. Those who reported no changes in social class (stable social mobility) were older and were the most satisfied with their medical care. Multiple regression analyses indicated that downward social mobility was associated with less satisfaction with care when controlling for demographic covariates, quality of care, and medical mistrust. Results suggest that perceived social mobility may differentially predict Latina immigrants' satisfaction with the health care system, including their trust in U.S. medical institutions. We conclude that perceived social mobility is an important element in exploring the experiences of immigrant Latinas with health care in the United States. Highlights: This is a unique analysis of social mobility among Dominican immigrant women. Downward social mobility was associated with lower satisfaction with health care. Downward social mobility was (weakly) associated with poor mental health. Upward and stable social mobility were not associated with better health outcomes.