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Race-ethnicity and health trajectories: tests of three hypotheses across multiple groups and health outcomes.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Brown, TH; O'Rand, AM; Adkins, DE
Published in: Journal of health and social behavior
September 2012

Racial-ethnic disparities in static levels of health are well documented. Less is known about racial-ethnic differences in age trajectories of health. The few studies on this topic have examined only single health outcomes and focused on black-white disparities. This study extends prior research by using a life course perspective, panel data from the Health and Retirement Study, and multilevel growth curve models to investigate racial-ethnic differences in the trajectories of serious conditions and functional limitations among blacks, Mexican Americans, and whites. We test three hypotheses on the nature of racial-ethnic disparities in health across the life course (aging-as-leveler, persistent inequality, and cumulative disadvantage). Results controlling for mortality selection reveal that support for the hypotheses varies by health outcome, racial-ethnic group, and life stage. Controlling for childhood socioeconomic status, adult social and economic resources, and health behaviors reduces but does not eliminate racial-ethnic disparities in health trajectories.

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Published In

Journal of health and social behavior

DOI

EISSN

2150-6000

ISSN

0022-1465

Publication Date

September 2012

Volume

53

Issue

3

Start / End Page

359 / 377

Related Subject Headings

  • White People
  • Sociology, Medical
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Risk Factors
  • Racial Groups
  • Public Health
  • Middle Aged
  • Mexican Americans
  • Male
  • Humans
 

Citation

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Brown, T. H., O’Rand, A. M., & Adkins, D. E. (2012). Race-ethnicity and health trajectories: tests of three hypotheses across multiple groups and health outcomes. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 53(3), 359–377. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022146512455333
Brown, Tyson H., Angela M. O’Rand, and Daniel E. Adkins. “Race-ethnicity and health trajectories: tests of three hypotheses across multiple groups and health outcomes.Journal of Health and Social Behavior 53, no. 3 (September 2012): 359–77. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022146512455333.
Brown TH, O’Rand AM, Adkins DE. Race-ethnicity and health trajectories: tests of three hypotheses across multiple groups and health outcomes. Journal of health and social behavior. 2012 Sep;53(3):359–77.
Brown, Tyson H., et al. “Race-ethnicity and health trajectories: tests of three hypotheses across multiple groups and health outcomes.Journal of Health and Social Behavior, vol. 53, no. 3, Sept. 2012, pp. 359–77. Epmc, doi:10.1177/0022146512455333.
Brown TH, O’Rand AM, Adkins DE. Race-ethnicity and health trajectories: tests of three hypotheses across multiple groups and health outcomes. Journal of health and social behavior. 2012 Sep;53(3):359–377.
Journal cover image

Published In

Journal of health and social behavior

DOI

EISSN

2150-6000

ISSN

0022-1465

Publication Date

September 2012

Volume

53

Issue

3

Start / End Page

359 / 377

Related Subject Headings

  • White People
  • Sociology, Medical
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Risk Factors
  • Racial Groups
  • Public Health
  • Middle Aged
  • Mexican Americans
  • Male
  • Humans