Does Aging Affect Health Differently in Immigrants and Natives?

Su Yeon Jang , Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research
Anna Oksuzyan , Bielefeld University
Mikko Myrskylä, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research and London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
Frank Van Lenthe, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam
Silvia Loi , Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (MPIDR)

Age-related health problems of immigrants are a growing burden to European society. We study how chronic health conditions develop over ages in immigrants and natives, particularly focusing on the heterogeneity of trajectories in health decline by origin and destination countries. We longitudinally analyze the number of chronic disorders in adults aged 50 to 79 from 28 European countries, using the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe. We find that immigrants have poorer health than natives at all age groups, but the gap decreases from age 65. Trajectories of health decline vary by receiving and origin country-groups. Immigrants in Eastern and Southern Europe show a slower health decline compared to natives, particularly at older ages. By origin, Asia and Oceania relate to a faster health decline in under-65 age groups, while Eastern Europe relates to a slower health decline in ages above 65.

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 Presented in Session 21. International Migration