title: Progressive and accelerated disability onset by race/ethnicity and education among late midlife and older adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study explores the pace of severe disability onset with an emphasis on the role of race/ethnicity and education. More specifically, this research examines whether race/ethnicity and educational attainment are independent predictors of progressive and accelerated disability onset.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) Waves 2 to 10 (1994-2010), a series of discrete-time Cox proportional hazards models with multiple competing events were created to ascertain whether respondents developed progressive or accelerated disability in subsequent waves.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Black and Hispanic respondents were at an increased risk of developing progressive disability. Respondents without a high school degree were more likely to experience progressive or accelerated disability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low educational attainment was a particularly strong predictor of accelerated disability onset and may represent an acute lack of resources over the life course. Race and ethnicity were important predictors of progressive disability onset, which may reflect racial/ethnic variations in the disabling process.
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48106-1248, USA. kelatham@umich.edu
authors.forename: Kenzie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Latham
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*