title: Health-related quality of life of latin-american immigrants and spanish-born attended in spanish primary health care: socio-demographic and psychosocial factors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study compares the health-related quality of life of Spanish-born and Latin American-born individuals settled in Spain. Socio-demographic and psychosocial factors associated with health-related quality of life are analyzed.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional Primary Health Care multi center-based study of Latin American-born (n = 691) and Spanish-born (n = 903) outpatients from 15 Primary Health Care Centers (Madrid, Spain). The Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) was used to assess health-related quality of life. Socio-demographic, psychosocial, and specific migration data were also collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to Spanish-born participants, Latin American-born participants reported higher health-related quality of life in the physical functioning and vitality dimensions. Across the entire sample, Latin American-born participants, younger participants, men and those with high social support reported significantly higher levels of physical health. Men with higher social support and a higher income reported significantly higher mental health. When stratified by gender, data show that for men physical health was only positively associated with younger age. For women, in addition to age, social support and marital status were significantly related. Both men and women with higher social support and income had significantly better mental health. Finally, for immigrants, the physical and mental health components of health-related quality of life were not found to be significantly associated with any of the pre-migration factors or conditions of migration. Only the variable "exposure to political violence" was significantly associated with the mental health component (p = 0.014).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The key factors to understanding HRQoL among Latin American-born immigrants settled in Spain are age, sex and social support. Therefore, strategies to maintain optimal health outcomes in these immigrant communities should include public policies on social inclusion in the host society and focus on improving social support networks in order to foster and maintain the health and HRQoL of this group.
authors.affiliation: Gerencia Adjunta de Planificación y Calidad, Atención Primaria, Servicio Madrileño de Salud, Madrid, Spain; Group 27- Aging and fragility in the elderly, Hospital La Paz Institute for Health Research-IdiPAZ, Madrid, Spain; Red de Investigación en Servicios de Salud en Enfermedades Crónicas (REDISSEC), Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Miguel Ángel
authors.initials: MÁ
authors.lastname: Salinero-Fort
authors.affiliation: Group 27- Aging and fragility in the elderly, Hospital La Paz Institute for Health Research-IdiPAZ, Madrid, Spain; Plataforma de Apoyo al Investigador Novel- PAIN Platform, Hospital La Paz Institute for Health Research-IdiPAZ, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Paloma
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gómez-Campelo
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bragado-Alvárez
authors.affiliation: Group 27- Aging and fragility in the elderly, Hospital La Paz Institute for Health Research-IdiPAZ, Madrid, Spain; Dirección Técnica de Docencia e Investigación, Gerencia Adjunta de Planificación y Calidad, Atención Primaria, Servicio Madrileño de Salud, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Abánades-Herranz
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Preventiva, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jiménez-García
authors.affiliation: Group 27- Aging and fragility in the elderly, Hospital La Paz Institute for Health Research-IdiPAZ, Madrid, Spain; Red de Investigación en Servicios de Salud en Enfermedades Crónicas (REDISSEC), Madrid, Spain; Servicio de Medicina Preventiva, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: de Burgos-Lunar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
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