A study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry (2008) examines the prevalence of mental illness among immigrant and non-immigrant U.S. Latino groups. The research compares lifetime psychiatric disorder rates among Latino immigrants, U.S.-born Latinos, and non-Latino whites. The findings reveal that, overall, Latinos have lower rates of most psychiatric disorders compared to non-Latino whites, consistent with the "immigrant paradox," where foreign nativity is protective against psychiatric disorders. However, this paradox is not consistent across all Latino subgroups. For example, the immigrant paradox holds for Mexican immigrants across mood, anxiety, and substance disorders, but is only evident for substance disorders among Cubans and Other Latinos. No differences were found in lifetime prevalence rates between migrant and U.S.-born Puerto Ricans. The study highlights significant variability in lifetime risk for psychiatric disorders among Latino subgroups, with some groups, like Puerto Ricans, experiencing rates comparable to non-Latino whites. The protective effect of foreign nativity may be particularly relevant for substance disorders, possibly due to strong social controls in countries of origin against alcohol and drug use. However, the immigrant paradox does not apply to Puerto Ricans, who are U.S. citizens with different migratory patterns and cultural exposure. The study emphasizes the importance of not overgeneralizing the protective effect of nativity for all Latinos, as the impact varies by type of disorder and sub-ethnicity. The study also underscores the need for culturally appropriate prevention and treatment efforts, as some Latino subgroups experience psychiatric disorders at rates comparable to non-Latino whites. The findings suggest that aggregating Latinos into a single group masks significant variability in mental health outcomes. The study's limitations include cross-sectional comparisons and potential underrepresentation of severe mental illness cases. Overall, the research highlights the complexity of mental health disparities among Latino populations and the importance of considering sub-ethnic differences in future studies.A study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry (2008) examines the prevalence of mental illness among immigrant and non-immigrant U.S. Latino groups. The research compares lifetime psychiatric disorder rates among Latino immigrants, U.S.-born Latinos, and non-Latino whites. The findings reveal that, overall, Latinos have lower rates of most psychiatric disorders compared to non-Latino whites, consistent with the "immigrant paradox," where foreign nativity is protective against psychiatric disorders. However, this paradox is not consistent across all Latino subgroups. For example, the immigrant paradox holds for Mexican immigrants across mood, anxiety, and substance disorders, but is only evident for substance disorders among Cubans and Other Latinos. No differences were found in lifetime prevalence rates between migrant and U.S.-born Puerto Ricans. The study highlights significant variability in lifetime risk for psychiatric disorders among Latino subgroups, with some groups, like Puerto Ricans, experiencing rates comparable to non-Latino whites. The protective effect of foreign nativity may be particularly relevant for substance disorders, possibly due to strong social controls in countries of origin against alcohol and drug use. However, the immigrant paradox does not apply to Puerto Ricans, who are U.S. citizens with different migratory patterns and cultural exposure. The study emphasizes the importance of not overgeneralizing the protective effect of nativity for all Latinos, as the impact varies by type of disorder and sub-ethnicity. The study also underscores the need for culturally appropriate prevention and treatment efforts, as some Latino subgroups experience psychiatric disorders at rates comparable to non-Latino whites. The findings suggest that aggregating Latinos into a single group masks significant variability in mental health outcomes. The study's limitations include cross-sectional comparisons and potential underrepresentation of severe mental illness cases. Overall, the research highlights the complexity of mental health disparities among Latino populations and the importance of considering sub-ethnic differences in future studies.