Critical Perspectives on Racial and Ethnic Differences in Health in Late Life

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• Publisher: National Academies Press
• Year: 2004
• Edition: 0
• eBook ISBN:
  9780309165709
• Topic: Social Sciences
• Index: Social Sciences

In their later years, Americans of different racial and ethnic backgrounds are not in equally good--or equally poor--health. There is wide variation, but on average older Whites are healthier than older Blacks and tend to outlive them. But Whites tend to be in poorer health than Hispanics and Asian Americans. This volume documents the differentials and considers possible explanations.Selection processes play a role: selective migration, for instance, or selective survival to advanced ages. Health differentials originate early in life, possibly even before birth, and are affected by events and experiences throughout the life course. Differences in socioeconomic status, risk behavior, social relations, and health care all play a role. Separate chapters consider the contribution of such factors and the biopsychosocial mechanisms that link them to health. This volume provides the empirical evidence for the research agenda provided in the separate report of the Panel on Race, Ethnicity, and Health in Later Life.

Table of contents

• COVER PAGE
• THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES
• COMMITTEE ON POPULATION 2004
• PANEL ON RACE, ETHNICITY, AND HEALTH IN LATER LIFE
• Contributors
• Preface
• Contents
• 1 Introduction
• SECTION I THE NATURE OF RACIAL AND ETHNIC DIFFERENCES
• SECTION II TWO KEY CONCEPTUAL AND METHODOLOGICAL CHALLENGES
• SECTION III THE SEARCH FOR CAUSAL PATHWAYS
• SECTION IV THE CHALLENGE OF IDENTIFYING EFFECTIVE INTERVENTIONS
• SECTION V TWO INTERNATIONAL COMPARISONS