Trends in Hispanic/Latino Self-Rated Health: Growth Curve Decomposition of Age, Period, and Cohort Effects

• In Event: Aging and the Life Course Section Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (90 minute): 3: Life Course Experiences and Exposures and Long-Term Health Trajectories

Abstract

Age, period, and cohort (APC) processes are central to understanding population health change, yet Hispanic/Latino adults remain underrepresented in APC research. Using 15 years (2009–2023) of longitudinal data from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL), this study examines inter- and intra-cohort variation in self-rated health (SRH) among U.S. Hispanic/Latino adults. The analytic sample includes 14,086 individuals (138,630 person-years) from six birth cohorts (1933–1994). Hierarchical linear growth curve models estimate age trajectories of SRH while decomposing cohort and period effects, with supplemental analyses examining sexual and gender minority (SGM) status among Visit 3 participants.
Results reveal significant cohort variation in SRH trajectories. Contrary to patterns observed in non-Hispanic populations, more recent cohorts begin adulthood with slightly lower SRH levels. However, younger cohorts experience attenuated age-related declines, indicating a flattening of health deterioration across successive birth cohorts. Within cohorts, males report higher SRH than females, though this gap narrows with age. Inter-cohort shifts do not significantly modify sex-based disparities. Period effects show steady improvements in SRH over time, including during the COVID-19 era. Supplemental analyses provide limited evidence of SRH disadvantage among SGM participants; assigned male at birth SGM respondents report modestly higher SRH relative to non-SGM peers, though estimates may be conservative due to selection and attrition.
Findings highlight distinct aging and cohort dynamics within the Hispanic/Latino population and challenge assumptions derived from predominantly non-Hispanic samples. The results underscore the importance of studying within-group heterogeneity and call for further research on nativity, acculturation, and cumulative socioeconomic processes shaping Hispanic/Latino health trajectories.

Author

• Erin L Cuéllar Wright, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill