Cross-National Differences in Disability Among Elders: Transitions in Disability in Mexico and the United States.

TitleCross-National Differences in Disability Among Elders: Transitions in Disability in Mexico and the United States.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2015
AuthorsGerst, K, Wong, R, Michaels-Obregon, A, Palloni, A
JournalJ Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci
Volume70
Issue5
Pagination759-68
Date Published2015 Sep
ISSN Number1758-5368
KeywordsAged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Cross-Cultural Comparison, Disabled Persons, Female, Humans, Male, Mexico, Middle Aged, Mortality, Prevalence, United States
Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Little is known about how exposure to a combination of infectious and chronic conditions throughout the lifecourse could impact disability in old age. This paper compares 2 cohorts of adults who have aged under very different country contexts by contrasting disability transitions among elders in Mexico with elders in the United States.

METHODS: Data comes from the Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS) and the U.S. Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Estimated probabilities of 2-year transitions among disability states and mortality are presented for adults aged 50 and older.

RESULTS: The levels of disability prevalence and 2 year transitions are consistent with a higher rate of disability for the United States compared to Mexico. In 2-year transitions, the U.S. sample was more likely to transition to a disabled state or increase the number of disabilities than the Mexican counterparts, while Mexicans are more likely to move out of disability or reduce the number of disabilities reported.

DISCUSSION: The findings suggest that the current rate of disability in old age is lower for a less developed country compared with a developed society. We discuss implications, possible explanations, and likely future scenarios.

URLhttp://psychsocgerontology.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2015/01/28/geronb.gbu185.abstract
DOI10.1093/geronb/gbu185
User Guide Notes

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25633135?dopt=Abstract

Endnote Keywords

Disability/Disability/Elders/Mexico/MHAS_/cross-national comparison/cross Cultural Comparison

Endnote ID

999999

Alternate JournalJ Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci
Citation Key8174
PubMed ID25633135
PubMed Central IDPMC4635645
Grant ListR01 AG018016 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R37 AG025216 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
AG018016 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01 AG025533 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
P30 AG024832 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States