Healthy migrant and salmon bias hypotheses: A study of health and internal migration in China

The existing literature has often underscored the “healthy migrant” effect and the “salmon bias” in understanding the health of migrants. Nevertheless, direct evidence for these two hypotheses, particularly the “salmon bias,” is limited. Using data from a national longitudinal survey conducted betwe...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Social science & medicine (1982) 2014-02, Vol.102, p.41-48
Main Authors: Lu, Yao, Qin, Lijian
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Bias
Biological and medical sciences
China
Decisions
Diagnostic Self Evaluation
Emigration and Immigration - statistics & numerical data
Female
Health
Health Status
Healthy migrant
Humans
Internal Migration
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Migrants
Migration
Miscellaneous
Noncitizens
Peoples Republic of China
Public health. Hygiene
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Return migration
Rural–urban migration
Salmon bias
Salmonidae
Transients and Migrants - statistics & numerical data
Villages
Young Adult
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Summary:The existing literature has often underscored the “healthy migrant” effect and the “salmon bias” in understanding the health of migrants. Nevertheless, direct evidence for these two hypotheses, particularly the “salmon bias,” is limited. Using data from a national longitudinal survey conducted between 2003 and 2007 in China, we provide tests of these hypotheses in the case of internal migration in China. To examine the healthy migrant effect, we study how pre-migration self-reported health is associated with an individual's decision to migrate and the distance of migration. To test the salmon bias hypothesis, we compare the self-reported health of migrants who stay in destinations and who return or move closer to home villages. The results provide support for both hypotheses. Specifically, healthier individuals are more likely to migrate and to move further away from home. Among migrants, those with poorer health are more likely to return or to move closer to their origin communities. •We use panel data to study the healthy migrant and salmon bias hypotheses.•We find support for both hypotheses in the China internal migration setting.•Healthier people are more likely to migrate and to move further away from home.•Migrants with poorer health are more likely to return or to move closer to home.
ISSN:0277-9536
1873-5347
DOI:10.1016/j.socscimed.2013.11.040