Age Patterns of Race/Ethnic/Nativity Differences in Disability and Physical Functioning in the United States

• In Event: 402 - Section on Race, Gender, and Class Paper Session. Intersectionality and Health: The Embodiment and Expression of Multi-dimensional Inequality

Abstract

Objective: This study documents age group differences in disability and physical functioning for men and women across thirteen major race/ethnic/nativity sub-groups of the U.S. population. Method: We aggregate 14 years of data from the National Health Interview Survey to make detailed age comparisons across race/ethnic/nativity groups. Results: Middle-aged foreign-born individuals in nearly every group exhibit lower proportions of functional limitations and disability than U.S.-born whites. However, this pattern of immigrant advantage is generally reversed in late life. Moreover, most U.S.-born minority groups have significantly higher levels of functional limitations and disability relative to U.S.-born whites in both middle and late life. Discussion: Higher levels of disability and functional limitations among most U.S.-born minority groups and among immigrant populations in older adulthood most likely reflect the physical wear and tear of socioeconomic disadvantages throughout the life course and pose serious challenges for health providers and policymakers in a rapidly diversifying and aging population.

Authors

• Jennifer Melvin, University of Texas-Austin

• Robert A. Hummer, University of Texas-Austin

• Irma T. Elo, University of Pennsylvania

• Neil Mehta, University of Michigan