Work

Ethnic Disparities in the Onset and Progression of Functional Limitations Among Israeli Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Socioeconomic and Health-Related Pathways

Year: 2016

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To examine whether socioeconomic and health-related factors explain ethnic disparities in the onset and progression of functional limitations among middle-aged and older Israeli adults. METHOD: We used data from Waves I-III of the Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe in Israel. Logistic and multinomial regression models were estimated to examine the association between ethnicity and transitions in functional status (onset versus progression) from respondents' baseline interview (Wave I or II) to their follow-up interview (Wave II or III). RESULTS: Compared to veteran Jews, Arabs and Jewish immigrants from the former Soviet Union were more likely to experience an onset of functional limitations. Arabs were also more likely to experience worsening functional limitations by follow-up. Education and health-related factors attenuated some of the ethnic disparities in onset and progression of functional limitations. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest the importance of moving beyond traditional indicators of socioeconomic status and health-related pathways to fully understand the underlying factors that predict ethnic disparities in the onset and progression of functional limitations in Israel.

Source: The Journals of Gerontology Series B

DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbw007

Authors: Amira Osman, Katrina M. Walsemann

Institution: University of South Carolina

Language: English

Topic: Aging, Health, and Disability

Subfield: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: German-Israeli Foundation for Scientific Research and Development, National Insurance Institute of Israel, National Institutes of Health