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.
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.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-7
- DOI 10.1007/s10903-012-9677-4
- Authors
- Mary Aglipay, Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine, University of Ottawa, Room 3105, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
- Ian Colman, Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine, University of Ottawa, Room 3105, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
- Yue Chen, Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine, University of Ottawa, Room 3105, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
- Journal Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
- Online ISSN 1557-1920
- Print ISSN 1557-1912