A National Study of Racial-Ethnic Differences in COVID-19 Concerns among Older Americans: Evidence from the Health and Retirement Study.

TitleA National Study of Racial-Ethnic Differences in COVID-19 Concerns among Older Americans: Evidence from the Health and Retirement Study.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2022
AuthorsLin, Z, Liu, H
JournalThe Journal of Gerontology, Series B
Volume77
Issue7
Paginatione134-e141
ISSN Number1758-5368
KeywordsCOVID-19, Health Disparities, Minority aging, race-ethnicity
Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Concerns about COVID-19 is an important emotional reaction to the pandemic and represents a key pandemic-related mental health outcome. We provide the first population-based evidence of racial-ethnic differences in COVID-19 concerns among older Americans during the COVID-19 outbreak.

METHODS: We analyzed data from the 2020 Health and Retirement Study COVID-19 project. The sample included 2,879 respondents (aged 50 and older) who were interviewed from June to September 2020 and had completed measures on COVID-19 concerns and other key covariates. Ordinary least squares regression models were estimated to assess racial-ethnic differences in COVID-19 concerns. Formal mediation analysis was conducted to test potential mediating roles of exposures to COVID-19 risks, preexisting health status, and socioeconomic resources in accounting for racial-ethnic differences in COVID-19 concerns.

RESULTS: Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic Americans showed significantly greater concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic than non-Hispanic White Americans. Racial-ethnic minority older adults also had higher proportions of knowing someone who had contracted or died from COVID-19 than White older adults. Unequal exposures to COVID-19 risks by race-ethnicity and, to a lesser degree, preexisting health inequalities accounted for only part of the racial-ethnic differences in COVID-19 concerns.

DISCUSSION: Our findings call for more research and policy interventions to lessen the disproportionate burden of COVID-19 experienced by older adults of racial-ethnic minority groups.

DOI10.1093/geronb/gbab171
Citation Key12221
PubMed ID34549286
PubMed Central IDPMC9255937
Grant ListP2C HD042849 / HD / NICHD NIH HHS / United States
P30 AG066614 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01 AG061118 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States