TY - JOUR T1 - Cross-National Differences in Disability Among Elders: Transitions in Disability in Mexico and the United States. JF - J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci Y1 - 2015 A1 - Kerstin Gerst A1 - Rebeca Wong A1 - Alejandra Michaels-Obregon A1 - Alberto Palloni KW - Aged KW - Aged, 80 and over KW - Aging KW - Cross-Cultural Comparison KW - Disabled Persons KW - Female KW - Humans KW - Male KW - Mexico KW - Middle Aged KW - Mortality KW - Prevalence KW - United States AB -

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.

PB - 70 VL - 70 UR - http://psychsocgerontology.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2015/01/28/geronb.gbu185.abstract IS - 5 U1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25633135?dopt=Abstract U2 - PMC4635645 U4 - Disability/Disability/Elders/Mexico/MHAS_/cross-national comparison/cross Cultural Comparison ER -