Age Differences in the Reasons Older Immigrants Return to Mexico

Mexicans are the largest immigrant group in the U.S. and are aging rapidly. Data support that many return to Mexico due to economic factors such as employment. Few studies have investigated if older immigrants return to Mexico for different reasons than younger immigrants. Using the Mexican Health and Aging Study (N=963), we examine whether Mexican immigrants in the U.S. who returned to Mexico at age 50 and older report different reasons for returning than those who returned at younger ages. Few immigrants (regardless of age) returned to Mexico for economic reasons. In multinomial logistic regression modeling, older immigrants were more likely to return to Mexico due to illness (OR=3.06, 95% CI=1.29, 7.27) and just as likely to return because they missed family (OR=0.76, 95% CI=0.43, 1.33). Older Mexican immigrants in the U.S. with limited access to health care and/or caregiver support may return to Mexico.