Acculturation, Gender, and Health Among Middle Eastern Immigrants in the United States

Abstract

This study uses data from the 2002-12 National Health Interview Surveys and binary logistic regression techniques to examine the association between acculturation and health for Middle Eastern (ME) immigrants in the United States. Particular attention is given to the gender-specific acculturation-health relationship. Results indicate that, in general, ME immigrants are healthier than U.S.-born whites; ME immigrant men are, on average, healthier than ME immigrant women. The study finds evidence of an association between acculturation and self-rated health. However, the acculturation pattern holds neither for activity limitation nor for chronic health conditions. Male and female ME immigrants of all acculturation levels are less likely to report any activity limitations or any chronic health conditions compared to their U.S.-born counterparts. Findings suggest that future research on ME immigrants and on other immigrant groups should take into account different levels of acculturation when examining the relationship between acculturation and self-rated health by gender.