Research Article

Mental illness, nativity, gender and labor supply

  1. Victoria D. Ojeda1,*,
  2. Richard G. Frank2,
  3. Thomas G. McGuire2,
  4. Todd P. Gilmer3

Article first published online: 15 APR 2009

DOI: 10.1002/hec.1480

Issue

Health Economics

Health Economics

Volume 19, Issue 4, pages 396–421, April 2010

Additional Information

How to Cite

Ojeda, V. D., Frank, R. G., McGuire, T. G. and Gilmer, T. P. (2010), Mental illness, nativity, gender and labor supply. Health Economics, 19: 396–421. doi: 10.1002/hec.1480

Author Information

  1. 1

    Division of Global Public Health, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA

  2. 2

    Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

  3. 3

    Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine La Jolla, CA, USA

*Division of Global Public Health, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, Institute of the Americas, 10111 N. Torrey Pines Rd., La Jolla, CA 92093-0507, USA

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 10 MAR 2010
  2. Article first published online: 15 APR 2009
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 12 FEB 2009
  4. Manuscript Revised: 1 DEC 2008
  5. Manuscript Received: 20 SEP 2006

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Keywords:

  • immigrant;
  • labor supply;
  • mental health

Abstract

We analyzed the impacts of nativity and mental health (MH) on work by gender for non-elderly adults using the 2002 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. We employed two indicators of MH – the K6 scale of Mental Illness (MI) and an indicator for symptoms of Mania or Delusions (M/D). Instrumental variable (IV) models used measures of social support as instruments for MI. Unadjusted work rates were higher for immigrants (vs US-born adults). Regressions show that MI is associated with lower rates of work among US-born males but not immigrant males and females; M/D is associated lower rates of work among US-born males and females, and among immigrant males. Results did not change using IV models for MI. Most persons with MI work, yet symptom severity reduces labor supply among natives especially. Immigrants' labor supply is less affected by MI. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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