The Health of Returned Migrants in Mexico

Abstract

Scholars of immigrant health have studied the health of Mexican returned migrants as it relates to phenomena such as health acculturation or the Hispanic Health Paradox; however, there is a gap in our knowledge regarding how the post-return context and the process of reintegration impact health. Using data from the Mexican Migration Project, this study examines the health of returned migrants in Mexico with a cross-national perspective by looking at the relationship between their health trajectories during their time in the U.S. and their post-return health trajectories. I explore whether having had a negative, flat or positive change in health while being international migrants predicts differences in post-return health trajectories. My results suggest that those migrants whose health deteriorated while they were in the United States saw significant and substantial improvements once they were back in Mexico.