Investigating the nativity differences in the development of disability in Australia: findings from a nationally representative longitudinal survey

Abstract

Using data from multiple waves of the Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey, and Cox regression model with time-varying covariates, this study investigates how Foreign-Born men and women from english speaking (ES) and non-english speaking (NES) countries differ in their trajectories in developing long-term disability relative to Native-Born Australians. The results indicate that the risk of developing long-term disability increased with duration of residence among men from both ES countries and NES countries and women from NES countries, starting with a health advantage when their duration of residence was less than or equal to 10 years. However, they all lost their initial health advantage after 10 years or more years of their stay in Australia. We also found a mediating role of socioeconomic factors and English language proficiency in developing long-term disability for immigrant men and women from ES countries and immigrant women from NES countries respectively.