TY - JOUR
T1 - Racial disparities in disability
T2 - Recent evidence from self-reported and performance-based disability measures in a population-based study of older adults
AU - Mendes De Leon, Carlos F.
AU - Barnes, Lisa L.
AU - Bienias, Julia L.
AU - Skarupski, Kimberly A.
AU - Evans, Denis A.
PY - 2005/9
Y1 - 2005/9
N2 - Objectives. Although disability levels have been declining in older adults, there is little current information on racial differences in disability. Methods. Our data came from a longitudinal, population-based study of 6,158 Black and White adults aged 65 and older from the south side of Chicago. Data were collected during three face-to-face interviews between 1993 and 2002. We ascertained disability using three self-report measures and a performance-based measure of physical function. Using longitudinal data analysis, we examined overall racial differences in disability and the degree to which they varied by age and gender. Results. After an average of 6 years of follow-up, Blacks reported significantly higher disability levels than Whites after adjustment for age and sex. There was a significant increase in disability during follow-up on all four measures. Racial differences in disability did not vary consistently by age at baseline or over time but were greater among women. Findings were largely similar for self-reported and performance-based measures of disability. Adjustment for socioeconomic status substantially reduced racial differences in disability, although some of the differences remained significant, especially among women. Conclusions. Racial disparities in disability have not been eliminated, are greater among women, and have their origins earlier in adulthood.
AB - Objectives. Although disability levels have been declining in older adults, there is little current information on racial differences in disability. Methods. Our data came from a longitudinal, population-based study of 6,158 Black and White adults aged 65 and older from the south side of Chicago. Data were collected during three face-to-face interviews between 1993 and 2002. We ascertained disability using three self-report measures and a performance-based measure of physical function. Using longitudinal data analysis, we examined overall racial differences in disability and the degree to which they varied by age and gender. Results. After an average of 6 years of follow-up, Blacks reported significantly higher disability levels than Whites after adjustment for age and sex. There was a significant increase in disability during follow-up on all four measures. Racial differences in disability did not vary consistently by age at baseline or over time but were greater among women. Findings were largely similar for self-reported and performance-based measures of disability. Adjustment for socioeconomic status substantially reduced racial differences in disability, although some of the differences remained significant, especially among women. Conclusions. Racial disparities in disability have not been eliminated, are greater among women, and have their origins earlier in adulthood.
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U2 - 10.1093/geronb/60.5.S263
DO - 10.1093/geronb/60.5.S263
M3 - Article
C2 - 16131627
AN - SCOPUS:24144463843
SN - 1079-5014
VL - 60
SP - S263-S271
JO - Journals of Gerontology - Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
JF - Journals of Gerontology - Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
IS - 5
ER -