​Summary: While many studies have documented the health outcomes of immigrants, little is known about the direct and intersectional influences of generational status on mental health. Authors conducted a population-based cross-sectional study using data from the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) from 2015 to 2016 (N = 41,754) to compare the prevalence of psychological distress among first-generation immigrants and non-immigrants relative to second-generation immigrants, overall and across intersections of race, poverty status, and gender.

Findings: Second-generation and non-immigrant respondents had a significantly higher prevalence (10.1% and 9.4%, respectively) of psychological distress compared to first-generation immigrants (5.9%). Prevalence ratios comparing first-generation to second-generation immigrants were suggestive of an association where first-generation immigrants had lower prevalence of psychological distress compared to second-generation, though not statistically significant. Prevalence ratios of non-immigrants relative to second-generation immigrants were not statistically significant.

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• Journal Article: Examining Psychological Distress Across Intersections of Immigrant Generational Status, Race, Poverty, and Gender