TY  - JOUR
A1  - Melvin, Jennifer
A1  - Elo, Irma T.
A1  - Hummer, Robert A.
A1  - Mehta, Neil
T1  - Age patterns of racial/ethnic/nativity differences in disability and physical functioning in the United States
Y1  - 2014/08/26
JF  - Demographic Research
JO  - Demographic Research
SN  - 1435-9871
SP  - 497
EP  - 510
DO  - 10.4054/DemRes.2014.31.17
VL  - 31
IS  - 17
UR  - https://www.demographic-research.org/volumes/vol31/17/
L1  - https://www.demographic-research.org/volumes/vol31/17/31-17.pdf
L2  - https://www.demographic-research.org/volumes/vol31/17/31-17.pdf
N2  - Background: Rapid population aging and increasing racial/ethnic and immigrant/native diversity make a broad documentation of U.S. health patterns during both mid- and late life particularly important. 

Objective: We aim to better understand age- and gender-specific racial/ethnic and nativity differences in physical functioning and disability among adults aged 50 and above. 

Methods: We aggregate 14 years of data from the National Health Interview Survey and calculate age- and gender-specific proportions of physical functioning and two types of disability for each population subgroup. 

Results: Middle-aged foreign-born individuals in nearly every subgroup exhibit lower proportions of functional limitations and disability than U.S.-born whites. This pattern of immigrant advantage is generally reversed in later life. Moreover, most U.S.-born minority groups have significantly higher levels of functional limitations and disability than U.S.-born whites in both mid- and late life. 

Conclusions: Higher levels of functional limitations and disability among U.S.-born minority groups and immigrant populations in older adulthood pose serious challenges for health providers and policymakers in a rapidly diversifying and aging population. 

ER  -