The health of parents who remain behind. Socioeconomic and community differentials in the health of parents in Mexico whose children migrated to the United States.

While international migration can bring economic benefits to sending societies through remittances, it also reshapes family structures and intergenerational support systems in profound ways. The migration of adult children has important implications for parents who remain behind, particularly in countries with rapidly ageing populations and limited institutional care. This study examines the mental and physical health of parents in Mexico whose offspring have migrated to the United States. Using data from the Mexican Migration Project (2007–2019), we compare parents with migrant children to those whose children have not migrated across three health dimensions: chronic conditions, psychiatric problems, and self-rated health. Results show a consistent health penalty for parents with migrant children, especially with regard to mental health. Importantly, this negative association is moderated by factors such as socioeconomic status and community characteristics. Parents with limited economic resources and those from areas with a low US migration prevalence or urban areas are disproportionately affected by children’s migration. Remittances are not related to improved parental health. Overall, the findings underscore the emotional and health-related costs of migration borne by non-migrant family members.