1. Racial/Ethnic Differences in Predictors of Self-Rated Health: Findings from the Survey of Older Floridians.
- Author
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Park, Nan Sook, Jang, Yuri, Lee, Beom S., and Chiriboga, David A.
- Subjects
BLACK people ,CHRONIC diseases ,COMPARATIVE studies ,STATISTICAL correlation ,ETHNIC groups ,HEALTH status indicators ,HISPANIC Americans ,RACE ,REGRESSION analysis ,RESEARCH ,RESEARCH funding ,SELF-evaluation ,SOCIAL networks ,WHITE people ,SECONDARY analysis ,SOCIOECONOMIC factors ,PREDICTIVE validity ,CROSS-sectional method ,FUNCTIONAL assessment ,STATISTICAL models ,DESCRIPTIVE statistics - Abstract
The present study examined how self-rated health was influenced by sociodemographic characteristics, physical health indicators, and sociocultural resources among four racial/ethnic groups of older adults. The data source was the Survey of Older Floridians, a statewide sample of Whites (n = 503), African Americans (n = 360), Cubans (n = 328), and non-Cuban Hispanics (n = 241) who were age 65 and older. Hierarchical regression models of self-rated health were estimated to explore the direct effects of the predictor variables as well as their interactive roles in each racial/ethnic group. Compared to Whites, racial/ethnic minority older adults rated their health more poorly. Although physical health indicators were significant predictors of self-rated health across all groups, the authors found group-specific predictors and interactions. Findings show similarities and differences in predictors of self-rated health across diverse racial/ethnic groups and suggest the importance of understanding group-specific factors in efforts to improve older adults’ perceived and actual health. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]
- Published
- 2013
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