Perceived discrimination and mortality in a population-based study of older adults.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVES:
We examined the relation of individual-level perceived discrimination to mortality in a biracial, population-based sample.

METHODS:
Participants were 4154 older adults from the Chicago Health and Aging Project who underwent up to 2 interviews over 4.5 years. Perceived discrimination was measured at baseline, and vital status was obtained at each follow-up and verified through the National Death Index.

RESULTS:
During follow-up, 1166 deaths occurred. Participants reporting more perceived discrimination had a higher relative risk of death (hazard ratio [HR]= 1.05; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.01, 1.09). This association was independent of differences in negative affect or chronic illness and appeared to be stronger among Whites than among Blacks (Whites:
HR=1.12; 95% CI=1.04, 1.20; Blacks:
HR=1.03; 95% CI=0.99, 1.07). Secondary analyses revealed that the relation to mortality was related to discriminatory experiences of a more demeaning nature and that racial differences were no longer significant when the sample was restricted to respondents interviewed by someone of the same race.

CONCLUSIONS:
Perceived discrimination was associated with increased mortality risk in a general population of older adults. The results suggest that subjective experience of interpersonal mistreatment is toxic in old age. This study adds to a growing literature documenting discrimination as an important social determinant of health.

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Author information

Author/s: Barnes, Lisa L (LL); de Leon, Carlos F Mendes (CF); Lewis, Tené T (TT); Bienias, Julia L (JL); Wilson, Robert S (RS); Evans, Denis A (DA);

Affiliation: Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, 600 S. Paulina, Suite 1038, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. lbarnes1(-atsign-)rush.edu

Grants: AG11101 (Agency:United States NIA) ; AG22018 (Agency:United States NIA) ; ES10902 (Agency:United States NIEHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Journal: American journal of public health (Am J Public Health), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Jul; vol 98 (issue 7) : pp 1241-7

Dates: Created 2008/06/11; Completed 2008/06/24;

PMID: 18511732, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

African Continental Ancestry Group - statistics & numerical data
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Cause of Death
Chicago - epidemiology
Confidence Intervals
Depression - mortality
European Continental Ancestry Group - statistics & numerical data
Female
Health Behavior - ethnology
Health Status
Humans

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