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A life course perspective on migration and mental health among Asian immigrants: The role of human agency

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  • Gong, Fang
  • Xu, Jun
  • Fujishiro, Kaori
  • Takeuchi, David T.

Abstract

The relationship between human agency and health is an important yet under-researched topic. This study uses a life course perspective to examine how human agency (measured by voluntariness, migratory reasons, and planning) and timing (measured by age at immigration) affect mental health outcomes among Asian immigrants in the United States. Data from the National Latino and Asian American Study showed that Asian immigrants (n=1491) with multiple strong reasons to migrate were less likely to suffer from mental health problems (i.e., psychological distress and psychiatric disorders in the past 12 months) than those without clear goals. Moreover, Asian immigrants with adequate migratory planning had lower levels of distress and lower rates of 12-month psychiatric disorders than those with poorly planned migration. Compared with migrants of the youngest age category (six or younger), those who migrated during preteen and adolescent years without clear goals had higher levels of psychological distress, and those who migrated during adulthood (25 years or older) were less likely to suffer from recent depressive disorders (with the exception of those migrating for life-improving goals). Furthermore, we found that well-planned migration lowered acculturative stress, and multiple strong reasons for migration buffered the negative effect of acculturative stress upon mental health. Findings from this study advance research on immigrant health from the life course perspective by highlighting the effects of exercising human agency during the pre-migration stage upon post-migration mental health.

Suggested Citation

  • Gong, Fang & Xu, Jun & Fujishiro, Kaori & Takeuchi, David T., 2011. "A life course perspective on migration and mental health among Asian immigrants: The role of human agency," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 73(11), pages 1618-1626.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:73:y:2011:i:11:p:1618-1626
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2011.09.014
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Leu, Janxin & Yen, Irene H. & Gansky, Stuart A. & Walton, Emily & Adler, Nancy E. & Takeuchi, David T., 2008. "The association between subjective social status and mental health among Asian immigrants: Investigating the influence of age at immigration," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 66(5), pages 1152-1164, March.
    2. Gee, Gilbert C. & Spencer, Michael & Chen, Juan & Yip, Tiffany & Takeuchi, David T., 2007. "The association between self-reported racial discrimination and 12-month DSM-IV mental disorders among Asian Americans nationwide," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 64(10), pages 1984-1996, May.
    3. Takeuchi, D.T. & Zane, N. & Hong, S. & Chae, D.H. & Gong, F. & Gee, G.C. & Walton, E. & Sue, S. & Alegría, M., 2007. "Immigration-related factors and mental disorder among Asian Americans," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 97(1), pages 84-90.
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    Cited by:

    1. Miao Li, 2016. "Pre-migration Trauma and Post-migration Stressors for Asian and Latino American Immigrants: Transnational Stress Proliferation," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 129(1), pages 47-59, October.
    2. Sun, Nan & Yang, Fan, 2021. "Impacts of internal migration experience on health among middle-aged and older adults—Evidence from China," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 284(C).
    3. Zhang, Nan & Nazroo, James & Vanhoutte, Bram, 2021. "The relationship between rural to urban migration in China and risk of depression in later life: An investigation of life course effects," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 270(C).
    4. Honkaniemi, Helena & Juárez, Sol Pía & Katikireddi, Srinivasa Vittal & Rostila, Mikael, 2020. "Psychological distress by age at migration and duration of residence in Sweden," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 250(C).
    5. Acevedo-Garcia, Dolores & Sanchez-Vaznaugh, Emma V. & Viruell-Fuentes, Edna A. & Almeida, Joanna, 2012. "Integrating social epidemiology into immigrant health research: A cross-national framework," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 75(12), pages 2060-2068.
    6. Sophie Hennekam & Sabine Bacouel-Jentjens & Inju Yang, 2020. "Perceptions of Diversity Management Practices among First- versus Second-generation Migrants," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 34(5), pages 844-863, October.
    7. Sophie Hennekam & Sabine Bacouel-Jentjens & Inju Yang, 2020. "Perceptions of Diversity Management Practices among First- versus Second-generation Migrants," Post-Print hal-03232761, HAL.
    8. Ljunge, Martin, 2016. "Migrants, health, and happiness: Evidence that health assessments travel with migrants and predict well-being," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 22(C), pages 35-46.

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