The black/white disability gap: persistent inequality in later life?

OBJECTIVES Previous research on differences between Black and White older adults has produced inconsistent results on whether a gap in disability exists and whether it persists over time. The present research identifies several reasons for the inconsistent results to date and examines Black/White differences in disability trajectories over 6 years. METHODS Data from the North Carolina Established Populations for the Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly (1986-1992) are used to estimate the disability gap and trajectory over time for both Black and White older adults. RESULTS Results indicate that a disability gap between Black and White adults exists, but after socioeconomic resources, social integration, and other health indicators are adjusted for, the trajectories of disability by race are not significantly different. Controlling for incident morbidity over time accounts for the significant difference in level of disability between the two groups. DISCUSSION This research supports the "persistent inequality" interpretation, indicating that Black adults have higher morbidity and disability earlier in life compared with White adults, and that the gap neither converges nor diverges over time.