Re-examination of healthy immigrant effect of aging South Asian immigrants in Canada

Shireen Surood, Daniel Wing Leung Lai

Research output: Contribution to conferenceConference paperpeer-review

Abstract

This study examined the healthy immigrant effect in a random sample of 216 aging South Asian immigrants in Calgary. The sample was grouped as recent immigrants residing in Canada for 0 to 9 years and longer-term immigrants residing in Canada for 10 years or more. Separate analyses were conducted with males and females and the two age groups (55 to 64 and 65 or older), using SF-36, GDS-SF, difficulties in ADL and IADL, and number of chronic illnesses as the health measurements. The healthy immigrant effect was only observed in older women 65 years and older, with the longer-term immigrants reporting more difficulties in ADL and more chronic illnesses than the recent immigrants. For immigrant men of 65 years and older, the recent immigrants reported poorer mental health, more depressive symptoms, more difficulties in IADL, and more chronic illnesses. Similarly, among women of 55 to 64 years old, the recent immigrants reported poorer mental health, more depressive symptoms, more difficulties in IADL, and more chronic illness. These findings have demonstrated the intra-group variations in healthy immigrant effect on the aging immigrants. Challenges and barriers faced by recent immigrants are the reasons for the disadvantaged health status of recent immigrants.
Original languageEnglish
Publication statusPublished - 24 Oct 2009
Event38th Annual Scientific and Educational Meetings of the Canadian Association on Gerontology - The Fairmont Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Canada
Duration: 22 Oct 200924 Oct 2009
https://cagacg.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/CAG_2009_Conference_Program_English.pdf (Conference program)

Conference

Conference38th Annual Scientific and Educational Meetings of the Canadian Association on Gerontology
Country/TerritoryCanada
CityWinnipeg
Period22/10/0924/10/09
Internet address

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Re-examination of healthy immigrant effect of aging South Asian immigrants in Canada'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this