CMS Releases Articles on Mexican-American Health, English Acquisition among Spanish-Language Children in the US, and Immigrant Attitudes from 186 Countries towards Homosexuality

In November 2014, the Center for Migration Studies released new original articles available online in the International Migration Review (IMR).  The articles include: (1) an examination of Mexican-American health outcomes in the United States; (2) a study on the impact of the speed in which Spanish-language immigrant children learn the English language and (3) an investigation of immigrant attitudes from 186 countries towards homosexuality and the role of religion, socialization, and acculturation.  The IMR articles below are available through the Wiley Online Library by subscription or pay-per-view access.  Questions or media inquiries can be directed to IMR’s Editorial Office at [email protected].

Explaining the Mexican-American Health Paradox Using Selectivity Effects
Jose N. Martinez, Ernesto Aguayo-Tellez and Erick Rangel-Gonzalez
Article first published online: 11 NOV 2014 | DOI: 10.1111/imre.12112

While typically socioeconomically disadvantaged, Mexican migrants in the US tend to have better health outcomes than non-Hispanic Whites. This phenomenon is known as the Hispanic Health Paradox. Using data from Mexico and the US, Jose N. Martinez (California State University Dominguez Hills), Ernesto Aguayo-Tellez (Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León) and Erick Rangel-Gonzalez (Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Banco de México) examine several health outcomes for non-Hispanic Whites and Mexicans in the US and in Mexico and employ Blinder–Oaxaca decompositions to help explain the paradox. The authors find evidence that selectivity is playing a significant role in the relatively healthy status of Mexican migrants in the United States. More importantly, there is evidence that health selectivity is a complex process and its effects typically do not work the same way for different health conditions and across genders. The authors also find evidence that some of migrants’ health advantages are lost as they spend more time in the United States.

Trajectories of English Acquisition among Foreign-born Spanish-Language Children in the United States
Gillian Stevens
Article first published online: 11 NOV 2014 | DOI: 10.1111/imre.12119

The rapidity with which immigrant children learn the dominant language of their country of residence has important short-term and long-term consequences for their educational achievements and for their future. In this paper, Gillian Stevens (University of Alberta) uses US census data to model trajectories of English acquisition among foreign-born children living in Spanish-language households. The results show, as expected, that children’s English proficiency increases with length of residence in the United States. However, the results also show a clear trend by age at arrival. The older children are when they arrive in the United States, the less rapid their progress in acquiring proficiency in English.

Immigrants’ Attitudes Toward Homosexuality: Socialization, Religion, and Acculturation in European Host Societies
Antje Röder
Article first published online: 18 NOV 2014 | DOI: 10.1111/imre.12113

With increasing diversity of migrants in Europe, questions about cultural integration are gaining importance. This study authored by Antje Röder (Trinity College Dublin) focuses on attitudes towards homosexuality among first and second generation immigrants from 186 origin countries to examine  the role of religion, origin country socialization, and acculturation. While there is clear evidence of substantial intra- and inter-generational weakening of attitudes opposed to homosexuality, the extent of this shift varies across religious groups and remains highest among Muslim, non-Christian and Eastern Orthodox migrants.