TY  - JOUR
A1  - Garcia, Catherine
A1  - Garcia, Marc A.
A1  - Ailshire, Jennifer
T1  - Sociocultural variability in the Latino population: Age patterns and differences in morbidity among older US adults
Y1  - 2018/05/15
JF  - Demographic Research
JO  - Demographic Research
SN  - 1435-9871
SP  - 1605
EP  - 1618
DO  - 10.4054/DemRes.2018.38.52
VL  - 38
IS  - 52
UR  - https://www.demographic-research.org/volumes/vol38/52/
L1  - https://www.demographic-research.org/volumes/vol38/52/38-52.pdf
L2  - https://www.demographic-research.org/volumes/vol38/52/38-52.pdf
N2  - Background: The US Latino population is rapidly aging and becoming increasingly diverse with respect to nativity and national origin. Increased longevity along with medical advancements in treatment have resulted in a higher number of older Latinos living with morbidity. Therefore, there is a need to understand variability in Latino health among older adults. 

Objective: This paper documents mid- and late-life health differences in morbidity by race/ethnicity, nativity, and country of origin among adults aged 50 and older. 

Methods: We use data from the 2000–2015 National Health Interview Survey to calculate age- and gender-specific proportions based on reports of five morbidity measures: hypertension, heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes among non-Latino Whites and seven Latino subgroups. 

Results: The foreign-born from Mexico, Cuba, and Central/South America, regardless of gender, exhibit an immigrant advantage for heart disease and cancer in comparison to non-Latino Whites across all age categories. Conversely, island-born Puerto Ricans are generally characterized with higher levels of morbidity. Similarly, US-born Puerto Ricans and Mexicans exhibit morbidity patterns indicative of their minority status. Latinos, regardless of gender, were more likely to report diabetes than non-Latino Whites. Hypertension and stroke have significant variability in age patterns among US- and foreign-born Latinos. 

Conclusions: Recognizing the importance of within-Latino heterogeneity in health is imperative if researchers are to implement social services and health policies aimed at ameliorating the risk of disease. 

Contribution: Considering intersectional ethnic, nativity, and country-of-origin characteristics among older Latinos is important to better understand the underlying causes of racial/ethnic disparities in morbidity across the life course. 

ER  -