Citation
Melvin, Jennifer E.; Hummer, Robert A.; Elo, Irma T.; & Mehta, Neil (2014). Age Patterns of Racial/Ethnic/Nativity Differences in Disability and Physical Functioning in the United States. Demographic Research, 31(17), 497-509. PMCID: PMC4755494Abstract
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.
CONCLUSIONS Higher levels of functional limitations and disability among U.S.-born minority groups and immigrant populations in older adulthood pose serious challenges for health providers and policymakers in a rapidly diversifying and aging population.
URL
http://dx.doi.org/10.4054/DemRes.2014.31.17Reference Type
Journal ArticleYear Published
2014Journal Title
Demographic ResearchAuthor(s)
Melvin, Jennifer E.Hummer, Robert A.
Elo, Irma T.
Mehta, Neil