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Understanding Racial and Ethnic Differences in Health in Late Life A Research Agenda (2004) / Chapter Skim
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5 Behavior Risk Factors
Pages 61-69

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From page 61...
... (2002) looked longitudinally at the effects of various behaviors on a variety of health outcomes, including inability to work, dependence on others in activities of daily living, selfreported health status, and hospitalization.
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From page 62...
... ; see Table 5-1. Relative to whites, American Indians and Alaska Natives exhibit less healthy behaviors, and Asians generally healthier behaviors, except in having less leisure-time physical activity.
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From page 63...
... However, it does not increase any advantage in lower alcohol consumption, and one marginal difference -- a Hispanic advantage in lower cigarette smoking -- becomes significant when socioeconomic factors are taken into account (Winkleby and Cubbin, 2004)
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From page 64...
... Neighborhoods provide stimuli, such as outlets for alcohol or illegal drugs, or limit options for healthy nutrition or exercise. Black neighborhoods appear more likely to suffer from such institutional risk factors as the proliferation of liquor stores and insufficient supplies of prescription drugs (LaVeist and Wallace, 2000; Morrison et al., 2000)
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From page 65...
... , a cluster of behavioral factors -- the most important of which was BMI-account for only about one-sixth of the black disadvantage relative to whites, and it did not affect the Hispanic disadvantage. Among individuals aged 70 and older, the effect of behavior risk factors on self-reported health is slightly greater, with the black disadvantage reduced by one-third and the Hispanic disadvantage by close to one-fifth.
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From page 66...
... OTHER BEHAVIORS We have considered major behavior risk factors that affect chronic illness. Other behaviors may also be relevant.
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From page 67...
... Equally poor black and Hispanic neighborhoods were characterized by relatively empty and unsafe versus bustling streets, and few commercial attractions versus animated public spaces. Overall, a pervasive fear of violence in black neighborhoods kept seniors especially indoors, with disastrous results (Klinenberg, 2002)
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From page 68...
... While other factors have been suggested, especially acculturation, these are probably insufficient to account, for instance, for the relatively unhealthy behaviors among American Indians and Alaska Natives and blacks. Such problematic conditions as obesity among black women need to be better understood.
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From page 69...
... Socioeconomic change and acculturation modify behavior over time. Trends in behavior risk factors for racial and ethnic groups require continued monitoring.
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Key Terms

  • risk factors
  • black women
  • socioeconomic status
  • physical activity
  • ethnic differences

  • health differences
  • socioeconomic factors
  • american indians
  • black disadvantage
  • alaska natives

  • black neighborhoods
  • individuals aged
  • behavioral differences
  • risk behaviors
  • alcohol consumption

  • sexually transmitted
  • lower alcohol
  • hispanic disadvantage
  • produce racial
  • transmitted diseases

  • healthy behavior
  • substance abuse
  • risky behavior
  • percent reported
  • healthy behaviors

  • factors account
  • chinese lack
  • reported behavior
  • reduce risky
  • extent socioeconomic


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