title: Race/ethnic and nativity disparities in later life physical performance: the role of health and socioeconomic status over the life course.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We examine race/ethnic and nativity differences in objective measures of physical performance (i.e., peak expiratory flow, grip strength, and gait speed) in a nationally representative sample of older Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics. We also examine whether detailed measures of childhood and adult health and socioeconomic status (SES) mediate race/ethnic differences in physical performance.
  
  
  METHODS
  We use data from the Health and Retirement Study, a population-based sample of older Americans born before 1947, and 3 measures of physical performance. Nested ordinary least squares models examine whether childhood and adult health and SES mediate race/ethnic differences in performance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We find large and significant race/ethnic and nativity differences in lung function, grip strength, and gait speed. Adjusting for childhood and current adult health and SES reduces race/ethnic differences in physical performance but does not eliminate them entirely. Childhood health and SES as well as more proximal levels of SES are important determinants of race/ethnic disparities in later life physical performance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The analysis highlights that a large proportion of race/ethnic and nativity disparities result from health and socioeconomic disadvantages in both early life and adulthood and thus suggests multiple intervention points at which disparities can be reduced.
authors.affiliation: Center for Population Dynamics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-3701, USA. steven.haas@asu.edu
authors.forename: Steven A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Haas
authors.forename: Patrick M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Krueger
authors.forename: Leah
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rohlfsen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000208:ethnology / Q000502:physiology*; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006304:Health Status; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000208:ethnology*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012923:Social Class; D014481:United States / Q000208:ethnology