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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Liang Wei, MPH and Bei Wu, PhD. West Virginia University, Center on Aging, P.O.Box 9127, Morgantown, WV 26506, 304-293-8297, lwei1@mix.wvu.edu

As the average life expectancy continues to rise in the United States, an increasing number of older adults experience functional impairment. Previous cross-sectional studies have shown that disparities of disability prevalence exist within different race/ethnicity and gender groups. Onset rates of functional impairment have not been well examined empirically for racial/ethnic and gender differences. Our study used nationally representative longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to examine racial and gender differences in onset rates of self-reported functional impairment among American Blacks, Hispanics, and Whites. For the purpose of this study, we selected 9,604 respondents aged 51 to 61 with no functional limitations at baseline in 1992. Six waves of HRS (1992-2002) were used to analyze the onset rates of functional impairment. Four domains of functional impairment, including disabilities of lower body, upper body, strength, and activities of daily living (ADL) were assessed. The study found that racial and gender differences in onset rates of functional impairments exist among American young-old adults. Blacks and Hispanics reported a significantly higher onset of disabilities than their White counterparts across four domains of functional impairment. Women reported significantly higher disability rates than men across all three racial/ethnic groups. Further, the study illustrates that while the onset of disabilities increases with age among the White group, some cross-over occurred among Black and Hispanic groups. The study suggests further analysis is needed to examine risk factors which cause racial and gender differences in the onset rate of functional impairments.

Learning Objectives:

• 1.To learn more about onset rates of functional impairment among young old American adults
• 2.To provide a better understanding of racial difference of functional impairment among young old American Blacks, Hispanics and Whites and gender difference within each of these racial groups.

Keywords: Disability Studies, Minority Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation