Does the “Healthy Immigrant Effect” Extend to Smoking in Immigrant Children?
Received 5 May 2009; accepted 19 August 2009. published online 12 October 2009. Corrected Proof
The “healthy immigrant effect” may apply to lifestyle-related behaviors in immigrant children. In a cross-sectional study of 1,959 children aged 9–12 years, the number of years lived in Canada was related to an increased risk of smoking among immigrant children. Interventions may be needed for immigrant children to prevent the adoption of unhealthy behaviors prevalent in their new host environments.
aDepartment of Social and Preventive Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
bCentre de recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
cDepartment of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
dSchool of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
Address correspondence to: Jennifer O'Loughlin, Ph.D., Centre de recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, 3875 St Urbain, Montréal, Québec, H2W 1V1, Canada.
ABSTRACT