Citation
Hayward, Mark D.; Hummer, Robert A.; Chiu, Chi-Tsun; González-González, César; & Wong, Rebeca (2014). Does the Hispanic Paradox in U.S. Adult Mortality Extend to Disability?. Population Research and Policy Review, 33(1), 81-96. PMCID: PMC4376250Abstract
Studies consistently document a Hispanic paradox in U.S. adult mortality, whereby Hispanics have similar or lower mortality rates than non-Hispanic whites despite lower socioeconomic status. This study extends this line of inquiry to disability, especially among foreign-born Hispanics, since their advantaged mortality seemingly should be paired with health advantages more generally. We also assess whether the paradox extends to U.S.-born Hispanics to evaluate the effect of nativity. We calculate multistate life tables of life expectancy with disability to assess whether racial/ethnic and nativity differences in the length of disability-free life parallel differences in overall life expectancy. Our results document a Hispanic paradox in mortality for foreign-born and U.S.-born Hispanics. However, Hispanics’ low mortality rates are not matched by low disability rates. Their disability rates are substantially higher than those of non-Hispanic whites and generally similar to those of non-Hispanic blacks. The result is a protracted period of disabled life expectancy for Hispanics, both foreign- and U.S.-born.URL
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11113-013-9312-7Reference Type
Journal ArticleYear Published
2014Journal Title
Population Research and Policy ReviewAuthor(s)
Hayward, Mark D.Hummer, Robert A.
Chiu, Chi-Tsun
González-González, César
Wong, Rebeca