title: Socioeconomic inequalities in self-rated health among middle-aged and older adults.
abstract: Despite increased attention to health disparities in the United States, few studies have examined the impact of socioeconomic inequalities on self-rated health over time. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study, this article investigates socioeconomic inequalities in self-rated health among middle-aged and older adults. The findings indicated that higher level of income, assets, and education, and having private health insurance predicted better self-rated health. In particular, increases in income or assets predicted slower decline in self-rated health. Interestingly, economic status had greater impact on females' decline in self-rated health. Blacks were less likely to suffer rapid decline in self-rated health than were whites. The findings led to the conclusion that health disparities should be understood as the interplay of socioeconomic status, gender, and race/ethnicity.
authors.affiliation: College of Social Work, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA. kim.2275@osu.edu
authors.forename: Jinhyun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007348:Insurance, Health; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057566:Self Report; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors