Early adult characteristics and mortality among inner-city African American women.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined predictors of longevity in a cohort of inner-city African American women.


METHODS
Data were derived from a cohort study of inner-city African American mothers whose median age in 1966 was 31 years. Analyses involved single-decrement life tables and pooled logistic regression.


RESULTS
Giving birth for the first time before age 25 and having at least a high school education predicted longevity in this sample. Effects of later age at first delivery in terms of mortality risk were stronger after 55 years and, especially, after 70 years.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings offer support for Geronimus's weathering hypothesis. Predictors of longevity among African Americans may be distinct from predictors for the population as a whole.
Astone
Nan Marie
NM
Department of Population and Family Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. nastone@jhsph.edu
Ensminger
Margaret
M
Juon
Hee Soon
HS
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002641:Chicago / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008136:Longevity; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008423:Maternal Age; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009026:Mortality; D009035:Mothers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011204:Poverty Areas; D012307:Risk Factors; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014504:Urban Health; D016387:Women's Health