262760 Racial and ethnic disparities in health and mental trajectories of older people

Monday, October 29, 2012

Terry Lum, PhD , Department of Social Work and Social Administration, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Kofi Danso, MSW, MPA , School of Social Work, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN
Although racial and ethnic disparities in health and mental health outcomes are well documented, very little has been known on how race and ethnicity interact with other variables to affect the trajectories of health and mental health as people age. The objective of this study were to understand the differences in health and mental health trajectories among older people in difference racial and ethnic groups and how these trajectories were shaped by other socioeconomic factors. Methods: Data for this study come from 1994 to 2006 longitudinal data from the HRS and AHEAD studies. Outcome variables included whether the respondents were still alive or not, self-reported health, number of ADL and IADL difficulties, and CESD depression level in each survey year. The sample included 21,454 individuals, among them, 77% were non-Hispanic White; 15% were non-Hispanic Africans, and 8% were Hispanics. Random effect model and growth curve model were used for data analyses. Findings: there were significant health and mental health disparities across racial and ethnic groups and these disparities persisted as people aged. Members of different racial and ethnic groups and of different age cohorts (AHEAD vs HRS) showed different patterns of health and mental health trajectories as they aged. The health and mental health trajectories across racial and ethnic groups diverged (e.g. stayed alive) or converged (e.g. levels of depression) as people aged, depending on the health measures.

Learning Areas:
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Analyze the racial and ethnic differences in health and mental health trajectories as people aged. Compare how the racial and ethnic differences in health and mental health trajectories varied across age cohorts. Demonstrate how the racial and ethnic differences in health and mental health trajectories were affected by socioeconomic factors.

Keywords: Health Disparities, Elderly

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to be an abstract Author on the content I am responsible for because I have studied and done research in this area for years.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.