Full Citation

Title: Age patterns of racial/ethnic/nativity differences in disability and physical functioning in the United States

Citation Type: Journal Article

Publication Year: 2014

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Abstract: BACKGROUND Rapid population aging and increasing racial/ethnic and immigrant/native diversity make a broad documentation of U.S. health patterns during both mid- and late life particularly important. OBJECTIVE We aim to better understand age- and gender-specific racial/ethnic and nativity differences in physical functioning and disability among adults aged 50 and above. METHODS We aggregate 14 years of data from the National Health Interview Survey and calculate age- and gender-specific proportions of physical functioning and two types of disability for each population subgroup. RESULTS Middle-aged foreign-born individuals in nearly every subgroup exhibit lower proportions of functional limitations and disability than U.S.-born whites. This pattern of immigrant advantage is generally reversed in later life. Moreover, most U.S.-born minority groups have significantly higher levels of functional limitations and disability than U.S.-born whites in both mid- and late life.

Url: https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/26350071.pdf?acceptTC=true&coverpage=false

User Submitted?: No

Authors: Melvin, Jennifer; Hummer, Robert; Elo, Irma; Mehta, Neil

Periodical (Full): DEMOGRAPHIC RESEARCH

Issue: 17

Volume: 31

Pages: 497−510

Data Collections: IPUMS Health Surveys - NHIS

Topics: Health, Race and Ethnicity

Countries: United States