Title | Race-ethnicity and health trajectories: tests of three hypotheses across multiple groups and health outcomes. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2012 |
Authors | Brown, TH, O'Rand, AM, Adkins, DE |
Journal | J Health Soc Behav |
Volume | 53 |
Issue | 3 |
Pagination | 359-77 |
Date Published | 2012 Sep |
ISSN Number | 2150-6000 |
Keywords | Age Factors, Aging, Black or African American, ethnicity, Female, Health Behavior, Health Status Disparities, Health Surveys, Humans, Male, Mexican Americans, Middle Aged, Racial Groups, Risk Factors, Socioeconomic factors, Sociology, Medical, White People |
Abstract | Racial-ethnic disparities in static levels of health are well documented. Less is known about racial-ethnic differences in age trajectories of health. The few studies on this topic have examined only single health outcomes and focused on black-white disparities. This study extends prior research by using a life course perspective, panel data from the Health and Retirement Study, and multilevel growth curve models to investigate racial-ethnic differences in the trajectories of serious conditions and functional limitations among blacks, Mexican Americans, and whites. We test three hypotheses on the nature of racial-ethnic disparities in health across the life course (aging-as-leveler, persistent inequality, and cumulative disadvantage). Results controlling for mortality selection reveal that support for the hypotheses varies by health outcome, racial-ethnic group, and life stage. Controlling for childhood socioeconomic status, adult social and economic resources, and health behaviors reduces but does not eliminate racial-ethnic disparities in health trajectories. |
DOI | 10.1177/0022146512455333 |
User Guide Notes | |
Endnote Keywords | Minority and ethnic groups/Older people/Cardiovascular disease/Inequality/Cultural differences/Cultural differences/Ethnicity/Diabetes/Socioeconomic Differences |
Endnote ID | 69620 |
Alternate Journal | J Health Soc Behav |
Citation Key | 7750 |
PubMed ID | 22940814 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC3668643 |
Grant List | P30 AG034424 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States K01 MH093731 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States T32 AG00029 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States K01MH093731 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States T32 AG000029 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States |