Immigrant Paradox

The immigrant paradox is a phenomenon where recent immigrants often surpass second-generation immigrants and non-immigrants in various measures related to mental and physical health, educational attainment, social behavior, professional results, and crime rates, despite the numerous obstacles they face in adapting successfully to a new country.

Immigrants encounter a multitude of challenges, ranging from negative attitudes of locals, segregation, and language barriers, to difficulties in cultural adaptation, where traditions and customs of the new culture may significantly differ or even be entirely opposite. They also face limited access to education, healthcare, governmental and financial services, dangerous living and working conditions, unemployment, and employment of highly qualified specialists in low-skilled positions.

Despite these challenges, researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health, McKenna College, Claremont, and the National Center for Health Statistics in the US observe that the physical and mental health levels of immigrants are higher than those of native-born Americans and the children of immigrants born in the US. They are less likely to suffer from obesity and mental disorders, and immigrant women give birth to healthier children. It was also found that the longer immigrants stay in the US, the more their health levels align with those of locals. For example, immigrant women almost completely converge with the average American Body Mass Index (BMI) within ten years of arrival, and men close a third of the gap within 15 years. This is due to the adoption of the local diet, limited access to medical services, stress at new, often low-paid jobs, and lack of vacation time.

Refugees in Denmark had a lower probability of stroke and breast cancer compared to native Danes, but a higher probability of lung cancer, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis. The level of all these diseases among refugees eventually converges to the level of native Danes as the length of residence increases.

This phenomenon can be explained by the fact that those who emigrate are usually stronger physically and mentally. They are more confident in their ability to adapt to a new place, more energetic, and mobile. Some researchers believe that immigrants may not accurately assess their health status. But the immigrant paradox does not end there.

There is also evidence that the immigrant paradox extends to crime rates. Studies by the Faculty of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of South Carolina and the University of St. Louis indicate that, contrary to some criminological theories, immigrants are less prone to violence than native-born Americans. The rate of domestic violence is lower among first-generation immigrant families. Immigrants are also less likely than non-immigrants to engage in many types of criminal and antisocial activities over their lifetimes, including drunk driving, speeding, intentional physical violence, and the use of weapons. This effect can be observed at the neighborhood level: an increase in the number of first-generation immigrants over time leads to a decrease in overall violence in the area.

According to the American Psychological Association, among first- and second-generation Latino and Asian immigrant adolescents in the US, there is a high level of diligence in school. They have a more positive attitude toward education, work harder, and miss school less often than subsequent generations and non-Latino whites. First-generation Latino, Asian, and African youth have a higher overall educational attainment and are less likely to drop out of school than subsequent generations of each community.

55% of unicorn companies (private companies valued at over 1 billion dollars) based in the US were founded by immigrants. 382 immigrant entrepreneurs in total founded 319 out of 582 such companies, according to the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP) in May 2022. Meanwhile, the share of immigrants in the total US population today is 13.6%. This means immigrants are four times more active and successful in tech entrepreneurship than native-born Americans. The share of immigrants among founders of artificial intelligence companies, the most advanced technology today, is already 65%, and together with second-generation immigrants, it reaches 77%. Even the most successful and richest entrepreneur in the world today, Elon Musk, is an immigrant who moved from South Africa to Canada and then to the US.

What are the reasons behind the immigrant paradox? Besides the selection process, which results in the relocation of generally more physically and mentally healthy and active individuals, there are several other factors.

The first is the most straightforward: when the ground is shrinking beneath your feet, you start running faster. The second, more profound, is cultural. Immigrants, in addition to acquiring a new cultural identity in the country they move to, maintain strong cultural ties with their native culture. This is expressed in kinship and friendship ties with their compatriots, the creation of communities and ethnic enclaves that provide emotional, financial, and social support, help with adaptation, and accelerate development. Cultural traditions may include healthier eating habits, strong family structures, and community cohesion, which can positively impact health and well-being. Thus, immigrants benefit from both the culture they come from and the new one they adapt to.

In my experience, gaining intercultural competence—understanding and being able to switch from one culture to another, being "at home" in both—is the main advantage of being an immigrant. Such a life is much more fulfilling and vibrant, free from extremes, offering numerous opportunities in today's world, both professionally and intellectually, socially, and psychophysically.

If you have already reached this level in your "Immigration" game—congratulations! Enjoy your success!

_____________________

This is a draft version of the book. You can help to make it better - write in the comments your thoughts, stories, and lifehacks that can help the next generations of immigrants. I will add them to the final version of the book.