The Gerontologist, Vol 34, Issue 1 24-35, Copyright © 1994 by The Gerontological Society of America

ARTICLES

Gender, race, and health: the structure of health status among older adults

RJ Johnson and FD Wolinsky
Department of Sociology, Kent State University, OH 44242-0001.

A previously developed model of disease, disability, functional limitation, and perceived health was examined for race and/or gender biases. This model focuses on (a) the direct effects of three factors on perceived health status, (b) how disability, functional limitations, and self-rated health interrelate, and (c) how race and gender condition these interrelationships. The results confirm the construct validity of separate dimensions of disability and functional limitation, and indicate that their differential effects are further modified by gender. Eight significant differences in structural effects are identified, including one gender effect among both blacks and whites, and seven additional gender effects among whites. In the structural model, then, most differences are gender differences among whites. The significant racial differences within gender were found only in the measurement model. Race differences for upper body disability and perceived health are consistent across gender. Sex differences, however, in measures of basic ADLs and household ADLs are not consistent across race. The findings confirm earlier conclusions that differences in the measurement of health exist between males and females, and between blacks and whites, but that the differences in the causes of perceived health exist only between males and females.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				H. Litwin Social Networks and Self-Rated Health: A Cross-Cultural Examination Among Older Israelis. J Aging Health, June 1, 2006; 18(3): 335 - 358. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. Roxburgh Parenting Strains, Distress, and Family Paid Labor: A Modification of the Cost-of-Caring Hypothesis Journal of Family Issues, November 1, 2005; 26(8): 1062 - 1081. [Abstract] [PDF]

				K. A. Cagney, C. R. Browning, and M. Wen Racial Disparities in Self-Rated Health at Older Ages: What Difference Does the Neighborhood Make? J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., July 1, 2005; 60(4): S181 - S190. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Luo and L. J. Waite The Impact of Childhood and Adult SES on Physical, Mental, and Cognitive Well-Being in Later Life J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., March 1, 2005; 60(2): S93 - S101. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. S. Long and E. K. Pavalko The Life Course of Activity Limitations:: Exploring Indicators of Functional Limitations Over Time J Aging Health, August 1, 2004; 16(4): 490 - 516. [Abstract] [PDF]

				R. J. Johnson, T. J. Gallagher, and F. D. Wolinsky The Influence of the End of Life on the Extent of Informal Help Received by Older Adults Research on Aging, March 1, 2004; 26(2): 259 - 283. [Abstract] [PDF]

				T. P. Daaleman, S. Perera, and S. A. Studenski Religion, Spirituality, and Health Status in Geriatric Outpatients Ann. Fam. Med, January 1, 2004; 2(1): 49 - 53. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. E. Cunningham, R. D. Hays, T. M. Burton, D. B. Reuben, and R. S. Kington Correlates of Social Function: A Comparison of a Black and a White Sample of Older Persons in Los Angeles Journal of Applied Gerontology, March 1, 2003; 22(1): 3 - 18. [Abstract] [PDF]

				C. S. Blaum, M. B. Ofstedal, and J. Liang Low Cognitive Performance, Comorbid Disease, and Task-Specific Disability: Findings From a Nationally Representative Survey J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., August 1, 2002; 57(8): M523 - 531. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. L. Bryant, S. M. Shetterly, J. Baxter, and R. F. Hamman Changing Functional Status in a Biethnic Rural Population : The San Luis Valley Health and Aging Study Am. J. Epidemiol., February 15, 2002; 155(4): 361 - 367. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. A. Wray and C. S. Blaum Explaining the Role of Sex on Disability: A Population-Based Study Gerontologist, August 1, 2001; 41(4): 499 - 510. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Hillen, R. Schaub, A. Hiestermann, W. Kirschner, and B.-P. Robra Self rating of health is associated with stressful life events, social support and residency in East and West Berlin shortly after the fall of the wall J. Epidemiol. Community Health, August 1, 2000; 54(8): 575 - 580. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				Y. Benyamini, E. A. Leventhal, and H. Leventhal Gender Differences in Processing Information for Making Self-Assessments of Health Psychosom Med, May 1, 2000; 62(3): 354 - 364. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Benyamini, E. L. Idler, H. Leventhal, and E. A. Leventhal Positive Affect and Function as Influences on Self-Assessments of Health: Expanding Our View Beyond Illness and Disability J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., March 1, 2000; 55(2): 107P - 116. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J. J. Wang, P. Mitchell, and W. Smith Vision and Low Self-Rated Health: The Blue Mountains Eye Study Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., January 1, 2000; 41(1): 49 - 54. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				H. B. Bosworth, I. C. Siegler, B. H. Brummett, J. C. Barefoot, R. B. Williams, P. P. Vitaliano, N. Clapp-Channing, B. L. Lytle, and D. B. Mark The Relationship between Self-Rated Health and Health Status among Coronary Artery Patients J Aging Health, November 1, 1999; 11(4): 565 - 584. [Abstract] [PDF]

				Y. Benyamini, E. A. Leventhal, and H. Leventhal Self-Assessments of Health: What Do People Know that Predicts their Mortality? Research on Aging, May 1, 1999; 21(3): 477 - 500. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. C. Hays, L. R. Landerman, D. G. Blazer, H. G. Koenig, J. W. Carroll, and M. A. Musick Aging, Health, and the "Electronic Church" J Aging Health, November 1, 1998; 10(4): 458 - 482. [Abstract] [PDF]

				L. R. Landerman and G. G. Fillenbaum Differential Relationships of Risk Factors to Alternative Measures of Disability J Aging Health, May 1, 1997; 9(2): 266 - 279. [Abstract] [PDF]

				D. O. Clark, T. E. Stump, and F. D. Wolinsky A Race- and Gender-Specific Replication of Five Dimensions of Functional Limitation and Disability J Aging Health, February 1, 1997; 9(1): 28 - 42. [Abstract] [PDF]

				R. J. Johnson and F. D. Wolinsky Use of Community-Based Long-Term Care Services by Older Adults J Aging Health, November 1, 1996; 8(4): 512 - 537. [Abstract] [PDF]

				A. M. Jette, S. L. Crawford, and S. L. Tennstedt Toward Understanding Ethnic Differences in Late-Life Disability Research on Aging, September 1, 1996; 18(3): 292 - 309. [Abstract]

				F. D. Wolinsky, T. E. Stump, C. M. Callahan, and R. J. Johnson Consistency and Change in Functional Status among Older Adults Over lime J Aging Health, May 1, 1996; 8(2): 155 - 182. [Abstract] [PDF]