Journal Article

Hispanic Older Adult Mortality in the United States: New Estimates and an Assessment of Factors Shaping the Hispanic Paradox

Lariscy, Joseph T., Hummer, Robert A., Hayward, Mark D.

2015

Overview

Hispanics make up a rapidly growing proportion of the U.S. older adult population, so a firm grasp of their mortality patterns is paramount for identifying racial/ethnic differences in life chances in the population as a whole. Documentation of Hispanic mortality is also essential for assessing whether the Hispanic paradox—the similarity in death rates between Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites despite Hispanics' socioeconomic disadvantage—characterizes all adult Hispanics or just some age, gender, nativity, or national-origin subgroups. We estimate age-/sex- and causespecific mortality rate ratios and life expectancy for foreign-born and U.S.-born Hispanics, foreign-born and U.S.-born Mexican Americans, non-Hispanic blacks, and non-Hispanic whites ages 65 and older using the 1989-2006 National Health Interview Survey Linked Mortality Files. Results affirm that Hispanic mortality estimates are favorable relative to those of blacks and whites, but particularly so for foreign-born Hispanics and smoking-related causes. However, if not for Hispanics' socioeconomic disadvantage, their mortality levels would be even more favorable.

• Publisher: Springer,Springer US,Duke University Press, NC & IL
• Subject: Adults / African Americans / Age / Age Distribution / Aged / Aged, 80 and over / Bias / Black people / Black white differences / Cause of Death / Continental Population Groups - statistics & numerical data / Cultural differences / Demography / Documentation / Estimates / Ethnic differences / Ethnicity / Female / Geography / HEALTH AND MORTALITY / Hispanic Americans / Hispanic Americans - statistics & numerical data / Hispanic people / Humans / Immigrants / Latin American cultural groups / Life chances / Life expectancy / Life Expectancy - ethnology / Male / Medicine/Public Health / Men / Mexican Americans / Mexican Americans - statistics & numerical data / Minority & ethnic groups / Mortality / Mortality patterns / Mortality rates / Noncitizens / Older people / Population / Population Economics / Predation / Race / Racial differences / Sex Distribution / Smoking / Smoking - ethnology / Social Sciences / Socioeconomic Factors / Socioeconomic status / Socioeconomics / Sociology / Statistical analysis / United States - epidemiology / White people