title: Migrant Selectivity or Cultural Buffering? Investigating the Black Immigrant Health Advantage in Low Birth Weight.
abstract: Prior studies on population health have reported an "immigrant health advantage" in which immigrants tend to show better health outcomes compared to their native-born racial/ethnic counterparts. Migrant selectivity and cultural buffering have been proposed as explanations for this relative advantage, predominantly in studies that focus on Latino immigrants' health in the US. This study adds to the relatively scant literature on black immigrant health advantage by comparing the two hypotheses (migrant selectivity and cultural buffering) as related to black immigrant health. The effect of nativity on infant low birth weight is tested using data from the US Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study. Results indicate that immigrant black mothers do have relatively better health outcomes that may result from cultural buffering, which reduces their risky health behaviors.
authors: Department of Sociology Anthropology and Social Work, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, 48859, USA. taylo3ca@cmich.edu.|Central Michigan University, 142 Anspach Hall, Mount Pleasant, MI, 60637, USA. taylo3ca@cmich.edu.
authors: Cedric A L
authors: CA
authors: Taylor
authors: Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, 83844, USA.
authors: Dilshani
authors: D
authors: Sarathchandra
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011247:Pregnancy; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Black immigrant health; Cultural buffering; Low birth weight; Migrant selectivity; Nativity