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Racial differences in self-rated health diminishing from 1972 to 2008

Journal of Behavioral Medicine volume 36, pages 44–50 (2013)Cite this article

Abstract

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 (\( \hat{\beta } \) = .002, P < .0005). However, this increase in health ratings has slowed, even reversing with a decline in health ratings as of late (\( \hat{\beta } \) = −.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 (\( \hat{\beta } \) = −.010, P = .021), suggesting that the reduction in the racial difference in self-rated health may be decelerating.

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Affiliations

  1. Health Services Research Center, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, San Diego, CA, 92093-0994, USA

    Andrew J. Sarkin, Erik J. Groessl, Brendan Mulligan, Marisa Sklar, Robert M. Kaplan & Theodore G. Ganiats

  2. University of California San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego State University, 9500 Gilman Drive MC-0994, San Diego, CA, 92093-0994, USA

    Marisa Sklar

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  1. Andrew J. Sarkin
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  2. Erik J. Groessl
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Correspondence to Andrew J. Sarkin.

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Sarkin, A.J., Groessl, E.J., Mulligan, B. et al. Racial differences in self-rated health diminishing from 1972 to 2008. J Behav Med 36, 44–50 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-011-9396-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-011-9396-7

Keywords

  • Self-rated health
  • Racial differences
  • Disparities
  • Polynomial trends