Abstract
The link between socioeconomic disadvantage and poor health has been observed consistently and over time (Berkman and Kawachi 2000). According to U.S. census statistics, in 2007, 21.5 percent of Hispanics/Latinos were living in poverty, compared with 8.2 percent of non-Hispanic whites, 24.5 percent of blacks, and 10.2 percent of Asians.1 In spite of their disproportionate representation among the poor, Hispanics/Latinos have demonstrated lower all-cause mortality and higher life expectancy than we otherwise might expect (Falcon, Molina, and Molina 2001; Hummer et al. 2000; Lin et al. 2003; Singh and Siahpush 2002; Sorlie et al. 1993). The growing domain of health research on Hispanics/Latinos has identified a Latino immigrant health paradox: foreign-born Hispanics/Latinos overall have better health outcomes than we might expect, given their lower socioeconomic standing (Markides and Coreil 1986).