Spatial Assimilation and Health Status of Elderly Mexican Americans: Evidence from the Hispanic EPESE

Karl Eschbach, University of Texas

This paper describes the distribution to social contexts of elderly Mexican-Americans by years and generation since immigration, as well as health outcomes for Mexican-Americans in different social contexts. Additionally, it identifies mechanisms linking social context and health. Data are from 3050 elderly Mexican-American respondents to the Hispanic Established Population Epidemiological Survey of the Elderly. Data were linked to Census STF data by tract of residence at baseline, and to data about regional health care resources from the Dartmouth Health Atlas. I find that immigration generation is weakly related to ethnic and SES composition of tract. Mexican composition of tract is strongly related to tract poverty and unavailability of medical services. Five-year mortality was lower for persons living in tracts with a large concentration of Mexicans. This advantage was explained by superior health status at baseline, in particular, a lower prevalence of stroke, cancer and hip fractures.