Racial differences in self-rated health diminishing from 1972 to 2008.
In addition to higher morbidity and mortality, Black adults have reported lower self-rated health than White adults. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diminishing difference in self-rated health between races from 1972 to 2008. Data from 37,936 participants over a 36-year span of the General Social Survey were used to evaluate the effects of race and time on self-rated health. Results confirmed that Black adults reported significantly worse health than White adults. Overall health was rated slightly better across both groups as time went on ([Formula: see text] = .002, P < .0005). However, this increase in health ratings has slowed, even reversing with a decline in health ratings as of late ([Formula: see text] = -.014, P = .001). Significant interactions between race and time indicated that the racial difference on this self-rated health measure has changed over time. The rate of change in the difference has slowed over time ([Formula: see text] = -.010, P = .021), suggesting that the reduction in the racial difference in self-rated health may be decelerating.
Health Services Research Center, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, San Diego, CA 92093-0994, USA. asarkin@ucsd.edu
Andrew J
AJ
Sarkin
Erik J
EJ
Groessl
Brendan
B
Mulligan
Marisa
M
Sklar
Robert M
RM
Kaplan
Theodore G
TG
Ganiats
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057566:Self Report; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*