Disparities in Functional Disability Among Arab Americans by Nativity, Immigrant Arrival Cohort, and Country of Birth

Read, Jen’nan G., Kristine Ajrouch, and Jessica S. West. 2019. Social Science & Medicine- Population Health Volume 7.

In this study, Dr. Read and her colleagues examine differences in health outcomes between U.S.-born and immigrant Arab Americans (ages 40+), as well as the differences among these immigrants based on when they arrived in the U.S. They find that foreign-born Arab Americans have higher odds of physical and self-care disability compared to their native-born counterparts. However, the rate of disabilities varied based on arrival cohort: those who immigrated before 1991; between 1991 and 2000; and 2001 onward.

The post-2001 group had the highest odds of both physical and self-care disabilities, while the earlier two cohorts were similar to native-born Arab Americans after adjustments for other variables. A large proportion of immigrants in the most recent group came from nations experiencing prolonged instability, and when they arrived, many faced anti-Arab sentiment in the U.S. These factors may have contributed to poorer health outcomes. Overall, this study demonstrates the importance of accounting for immigrant experience when analyzing health disparities.