Psychosocial correlates of health and illness among minority elders

This chapter reviews research that addresses just one component of the healthcare debate—how psychosocial factors, particularly social supports, are linked to health and illness. It outlines psychosocial correlates of illness and examines mortality differences across racial groups to illustrate the importance of social supports for the health of ethnic minority elderly. The chapter identifies issues relating to life expectancy and discusses issues relating to life expectancy. Health status can be assessed by examining causes of mortality. Age-adjusted mortality rates by cause show that blacks are more likely than whites to die from heart diseases, malignant neoplasms, diabetes, accidents, and homicides. Proponents of the differential exposure hypothesis contend that older minority group members are at greater risk for developing physical health problems because they are exposed to a greater number of stressful experiences. The chapter explores a host of research issues come into play whenever health and ethnicity.