Title | Does the Hispanic Paradox in U.S. Adult Mortality Extend to Disability? |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2014 |
Authors | Hayward, MD, Hummer, RA, Chiu, C-T, González-González, C, Wong, R |
Journal | Population Research and Policy Review |
Volume | 33 |
Issue | 1 |
Pagination | 81-96 |
Keywords | Demographics, Disabilities, Health Conditions and Status, Women and Minorities |
Abstract | Studies consistently document a Hispanic paradox in U.S. adult mortality, whereby Hispanics have similar or lower mortality rates than non-Hispanic whites despite lower socioeconomic status. This study extends this line of inquiry to disability, especially among foreign-born Hispanics, since their advantaged mortality seemingly should be paired with health advantages more generally. We also assess whether the paradox extends to U.S.-born Hispanics to evaluate the effect of nativity. We calculate multistate life tables of life expectancy with disability to assess whether racial/ethnic and nativity differences in the length of disability-free life parallel differences in overall life expectancy. Our results document a Hispanic paradox in mortality for foreign-born and U.S.-born Hispanics. However, Hispanics low mortality rates are not matched by low disability rates. Their disability rates are substantially higher than those of non-Hispanic whites and generally similar to those of non-Hispanic blacks. The result is a protracted period of disabled life expectancy for Hispanics, both foreign- and U.S.-born. |
URL | http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11113-013-9312-7 |
DOI | 10.1007/s11113-013-9312-7 |
Endnote Keywords | Hispanic paradox/Disability/Disability/Mortality/Disabled life expectancy/Nativity |
Endnote ID | 999999 |
Citation Key | 8066 |