Summary
Age-at-migration is commonly utilized as a proxy measure for assimilation. Researchers use this approach to examine the role of continued connection with places of origin on alcohol use. Cross-border connections may diminish the association between earlier age-at-migration and alcohol use by providing an alternative channel of influence for behavioral norms. Alternatively, a stress and coping perspective on cross border ties suggests potentially countervailing impacts of these connections on alcohol use.
Findings: For Latin American-origin women, cross-border ties are associated with increased risk for alcohol use among those who migrated early in life. In contrast, Asian-origin men and women who migrated as adults and have contact with family and friends abroad have the lowest predicted probabilities of past-year alcohol use.
The results among Asians support the idea that cross-border ties can be alternative influences on health behavior outcomes, particularly for adult migrants. Overall, authors find qualified support for both transnational and assimilationist perspectives on alcohol use behaviors among U.S. immigrants — as well as the interaction between these two frameworks. The joint influences of cross-border ties and age-at-migration were observed primarily for immigrant women, and not always in expected directions.
Researchers urge future research to consider both U.S. and country-of-origin influences on a wider range of health and health behavior outcomes for immigrants, as well as the potential intersection between U.S. and cross-border connections.
