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Related Experiment Videos

The black/white disability gap: persistent inequality in later life?

Jessica A Kelley-Moore1, Kenneth F Ferraro

  • 1Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA. jkm@umbc.edu

The Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
|January 15, 2004
PubMed
Summary

A disability gap exists between Black and White older adults, but it is explained by socioeconomic factors and health indicators. Controlling for new illnesses over time reveals similar disability trajectories for both racial groups.

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Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Epidemiology
  • Sociology of Health

Background:

  • Previous studies on racial disparities in disability among older adults yield conflicting findings regarding the existence and persistence of a gap.
  • Inconsistencies may stem from variations in methodology and failure to account for key mediating factors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate Black/White differences in disability trajectories over a 6-year period.
  • To identify factors contributing to observed racial disparities in disability.
  • To examine the persistence of disability gaps over time.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the North Carolina Established Populations for the Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly (1986-1992).
  • Estimated disability gaps and trajectories across racial groups.

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  • Employed statistical adjustments for socioeconomic resources, social integration, and health indicators.

    • Main Results:

    • A significant disability gap between Black and White older adults was observed initially.
    • After adjusting for socioeconomic resources, social integration, and health indicators, racial differences in disability trajectories became non-significant.
    • Controlling for incident morbidity over time explained the overall difference in disability levels between the groups.

    Conclusions:

    • Findings support the "persistent inequality" hypothesis, suggesting earlier onset of higher morbidity and disability in Black adults.
    • The disability gap between Black and White older adults does not converge or diverge significantly over time when accounting for relevant factors.
    • Socioeconomic and health factors are critical in understanding racial disparities in aging and disability.