Do wealth disparities contribute to health disparities within racial/ethnic groups?

ABSTRACT:

Background

Though wide disparities in wealth have been documented across racial/ethnic groups, it is largely unknown whether differences in wealth are associated with health disparities within racial/ethnic groups.

Methods

Data from the Survey of Consumer Finances (2004, ages 25-64) and the Health and Retirement Survey (2004, ages 50+), containing a wide range of assets and debts variables, were used to calculate net worth (a standard measure of wealth). Among non-Hispanic black, Hispanic and non-Hispanic white populations, we tested whether wealth was associated with self-reported poor/fair health status after accounting for income and education.

Results

Except among the younger Hispanic population, net worth was significantly associated with poor/fair health status

SUBMITTER: Pollack CE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3686361 | biostudies-literature | 2013 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature