[Adolescent health status: new immigrants from the former Soviet Union and Israeli-born]

Abstract

Background: The relationship between immigration and health has unique aspects during adolescence because of the psychosocial aspects of health status at this age.

Aims: To provide data on the physical and emotional health, risk behavior and services utilization of the new immigrant youth from the Former Soviet Union, compared with long-term Israeli residents and Israeli-born youth.

Methods: A survey was performed among Israeli-born and former Soviet Union-born pupils from middle and high schools living in Rishon-le-Zion. A self-reported anonymous questionnaire was completed by 861 adolescents, 29% of them new immigrants.

Results: No relationship was found between the immigration status or the number of years in Israel and physical or emotional health. Overall, 82% of the entire sample reported at least one health symptom such as pain or fatigue; 5% reported a chronic disease (mostly asthma) and 9% were overweight; 80% reported to have at least one emotional problem; however the immigration status had no influence on this situation. A total of 11% of the new immigrants reported smoking (5% of the Israeli-born), but in the multivariable analysis the immigration status was not significant. Furthermore, 40% of the new immigrants reported consuming alcoholic beverages compared to 25% of the Israeli-born. One quarter of the sample stated that they know someone who uses narcotic drugs. The percent of girls reporting they were involved in fights was higher among the new immigrants (21% compared to 12%). New immigrants report less visits to dentists even when controlling for other variables.

Conclusions: In general, the authors found many health problems among the youth but no significant differences between the two groups were found. New immigrants reported higher rates of risk behavior.