Exploring Health Disparities Affected by Stressful Life Events: Are Older African Americans at Greater Risk?

Abstract

We tested the double jeopardy hypothesis that predicts health disparities for minorities in later life. The research design allowed an investigation of race differences in mental health and stress for a group of comparably compensated retirees. We found virtually no support for the hypothesis that blacks would experience more stress or be more vulnerable to it.

Keywords

• health disparities
• minorities
• old age
• senior citizens
• retirees
• black minority