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Description

Racial disparities in COVID-19 exposure, illness, hospitalization and mortality have been well-documented, however, less is known about whether African Americans and other minorities experience greater worry related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Data from the special midterm release of the 2020 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) were used to examine the relationship between race (white, African American, and other) and ethnicity (Hispanic/Non- Hispanic) and COVID-19 related worry among older Americans (N=2,069). Participants were asked, “because of the coronavirus pandemic how worried are you about 1) your own health, 2) the health of others in your family? 3) Your financial situation? 4) Being able to get help if you needed it from family, friends, or others? 5) What will happen in the future?” (0=not at all worried and 10=very worried). Results from OLS regression controlling for age, gender and education showed that compared with whites, African Americans had significantly higher average worry for all items except the last (other race did not differ). Hispanics had significantly higher worry. These findings indicate that in addition to the previously documented disparities in COVID-19, older African Americans and Hispanics experienced more worry. This has important implications for long-term physical and mental health.

Publication Date

2021

Disciplines

Public Health | Public Health Education and Promotion | Social and Behavioral Sciences

Disparities in COVID-19 Related Worry & Related Outcomes Among Older Adults in the United States

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