Immigrants' Health, Acculturation, and the Work-Retirement Continuum

Although the link between immigrants' health status and employment is well established, there is little information on the combined impact of three components of acculturation (that is, dual self-identity, language proficiency, and realized expectations) on this link. Immigrants who came to Israel from English-speaking countries (N = 377) were categorized into three groups based on the work-retirement continuum (that is, working, same occupation; working, changed occupation; or retired). Using a cross-sectional design, this study examined whether the link between health and acculturation varied by immigrants' location on the work-retirement continuum. Bivariate analyses revealed group differences for two acculturation components, language proficiency (p <. 0001) and dual self-identity (p <. 05). Multivariable analyses indicated an interaction effect between the acculturation component of realized expectations and work-retirement continuum group status on health status. As a result, good health was related to higher levels of realized expectations for the retired group; related to lower levels of realized expectations for the "working, changed occupations" group; and unrelated to realized expectations for the "working, same occupation" group. The acculturation component of realized expectations varies depending on the immigrant's location on the work-retirement continuum. Health and social welfare professionals can promote health in working or retired immigrants by providing clear and realistic information to better align with immigrants' expectations.