Migration & Disability: Life Course States and Selective Migration among Puerto Ricans

• In Event: 231 - Section on Sociology of Population Refereed Roundtable Session and Business Meeting
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: Table 03. Issues in Population Health, Disability, and Care

Abstract

Using 5-year files of the 2012 American Community Service (ACS) and the 2012 Puerto Rican Community Service (PRCS) obtained from the Integrated Public Use Microdata Series (IPUMS), I examine differences in disability among Puerto Ricans by place of birth and age of arrival. This study makes an origin and destination comparison between Puerto Rican non-migrants living on the island, island-born Puerto Ricans who migrated to the U.S. mainland and Puerto Ricans born and living in the U.S. mainland. The migrant health advantage was found among Puerto Ricans who migrated as children (0-11 years old), youths (12-19 years old) and young-adults (20-34 years old). These groups reported lower levels of functional limitations, instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) and cognitive disability than Puerto Rican non-migrants living on the island. The migrant health advantage was not observed among mid-age adult arrivals (35-49 years old), and the results suggest that older-adult arrivals (50 and older) may be negatively selected on health. This study also finds that youth and young adult arrivals have an immigrant advantage over their more assimilated peers. Youth and young-adult arrivals reported lower levels of functional limitations and IADL than Puerto Ricans born in the U.S. mainland. The differences observed were not explained by socioeconomic characteristics

Author

• Susana M. Quiros, Pennsylvania State University