Title | Race and income disparities in disaster preparedness in old age |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2018 |
Authors | Cox, K, Kim, BR |
Journal | Journal of Gerontological Social Work |
Volume | 61 |
Issue | 7 |
Pagination | 719-734 |
ISSN Number | 0163-4372 |
Keywords | Emergency preparedness, Income, Racial/ethnic differences, Women and Minorities |
Abstract | This study investigated to what extent income status and race/ethnicity in old age interplayed with disaster preparedness. Data came from the 2010 Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative panel survey of older Americans over 51 years old. Our sample was restricted to respondents who participated in a special survey about disaster preparedness (N=1,711). Disaster preparedness was measured as a score, which includes 13 variables. Race/ethnicity was categorized by White, Black, and Hispanic. Low income was defined as below 300% of the federal poverty line. OLS regression was used to examine the main and interaction effects of race/ethnicity and lower income status on disaster preparedness scores. We found that older adults in lower income status had lower preparedness level than those in higher income (Coef. =-0.318, p<.01). Hispanics tend to be less prepared compared to White and Blacks (Coef. =-0.608, p<.001). Preparedness of Black elders was not significantly different from that of Whites. However, interestingly, Black elders in lower income status were significantly less prepared for disaster than other groups (Coef. =- 0.622, p<.05). This study identified vulnerable subgroups of older adults for disaster preparedness and suggests that preparedness programs should target minority and low income elders. |
URL | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01634372.2018.1489929https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/01634372.2018.1489929 |
DOI | 10.1080/01634372.2018.1489929 |
Short Title | Journal of Gerontological Social Work |
Citation Key | 9784 |
PubMed ID | 29979948 |