Childhood conditions that predict survival to advanced ages among African-Americans.
This paper investigates the social and economic circumstances of childhood that predict the probability of survival to age 85 among African-Americans. It uses a unique study design in which survivors are linked to their records in U.S. Censuses of 1900 and 1910. A control group of age and race-matched children is drawn from Public Use Samples for these censuses. It concludes that the factors most predictive of survival are farm background, having literate parents, and living in a two-parent household. Results support the interpretation that death risks are positively correlated over the life cycle.
Population Studies Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104-6298, USA.
S H
SH
Preston
M E
ME
Hill
G L
GL
Drevenstedt
D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003644:Death Certificates; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008136:Longevity; D008297:Male; D011203:Poverty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data