Atlanta, 15 mar ( EFE).-the bilingual immigrants are healthier than those who speak only one language, according to a study by Rice University today disclosed.
“Find that immigrants Latino and bilingual Asian reported improved mental health and physics compared with those who speak only English or their native language”, he told Efe Ariela Schachter, one of the researchers who participated in the study.
According to the researcher, the advantage of bilingual immigrants is maintained even after taking into account factors such as socioeconomic status.
The report, which appears in the March edition of the Journal of Health and Social Behavior, suggests that the domain of the English at the expense of the native language may not be as beneficial for the State of health of the immigrants.
“It is very important for immigrants to maintain their native language in addition to learn English,” said the researcher.
The study analyzed the relationship between the command of the English language and the mother tongue and health among more than 4,649 immigrants from Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico, China, Philippines and Viet Nam.
“Found some evidence that bilingual immigrants are more likely to maintain their social ties with their families in their country of origin, and to also develop positive in United States social networks, and that this is part of the health benefits that brings the bilingualism”, said Schachter.
Report says that bilingual immigrants may have a higher level of “cultural flexibility” which allows them to successfully lead his life in United States, that claim may also help explain why are healthier.
Researchers also measured the impact of acculturation, stress, discrimination, access to the system of health and habits such as smoking and drinking, although none of these found explanation for the effect of bilingualism, they assert.
“Our findings suggest that improve the fluency of English while maintains the native language, it is better for health compared with not learn English or learn English at the expense of losing the mother tongue,” said the researcher. EFE
