Economic, cultural, and social origins of emotional well-being - Comparisons of immigrants and natives at midlife

Linking theories of social stratification, ethnicity, and mental health wit h theories of human and social capital, the authors examine the impact of e conomic, cultural, and social factors on five different dimensions of emoti onal well-being for immigrants and natives at midlife. Based on data from t he 1992 wave of the Health and Retirement Study, the authors found that eco nomic factors and human capital variables are the most important determinan ts of emotional health for both immigrants and natives. The results indicat e that cultural factors can enhance emotional well-being. Religious affilia tion and participation are important for both immigrants and natives, but r eligious participation appears to be more beneficial for immigrants. Being part of a couple was also associated with better emotional health, especial ly for immigrants. The effects of several determinants of emotional health differed across immigrant groups. It was found that marriage, education, an d the presence of economically stable kin are particularly important for Cu bans.