Examining Racial Disparities in Historical Change of Mental and Physical Health Across Midlife and Old Age in the United States

Staben, Omar E; Infurna, Frank J.; Lachman, Margie E.; Gerstorf, Denis

doi:10.1093/geronb/gbab232

Cited by 4 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 69 publications

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“…The narrative surrounding midlife has come to the forefront in the past decade due to findings from Case and Deaton (2020) showing increasing rates of deaths of despair, chronic pain, and negative views on health among middle-aged adults in the United States. This is coupled with recent empirical evidence showing that compared with earlier born cohorts, later born cohorts of middle-aged adults in the United States are exhibiting poorer physical and mental health (Almeida et al, 2020; Goldman et al, 2018; Kirsch et al, 2019; Staben et al, 2022). These historical declines are unique to the United States; later born cohorts of middle-aged adults in Germany, South Korea, and Mexico are exhibiting historical improvements across mental and physical health (Infurna et al, 2021).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 77%

“…More than ever before, middle-aged adults are having to take on caregiving-related duties with aging parents, while continuing with full-time work (Reinhard et al, 2019), which coincides with a shrinking social and health care safety net (e.g., few options for paid family leave and less comprehensive health care; Feinberg, 2018). Numerous studies have found that later born cohorts of U.S. middle-aged adults, on average, report poorer psychological well-being, and physical health than earlier born cohorts (Almeida et al, 2020; Goldman et al, 2018; Kirsch et al, 2019; Staben et al, 2022).…”

Section: Midlife Is a Meaningful Period In The Life Coursementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Third, our sample is relatively homogenous. Having a more diverse sample in terms of socioeconomic status and race may provide more insight into character development across the lifespan given recent findings showing race differences in historical change of mental and physical health in midlife (see Staben et al, 2022).…”

Section: Limitations and Conclusionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The accumulation of adversity in midlife: Effects on depressive symptoms, life satisfaction, and character strengths.

Infurna¹,

Staben²,

Gardner³

et al. 2023

Psychology and Aging

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Middle-aged adults are a central pillar of society because they comprise large segments of the workforce and bridge younger and older generations. Given the significant role that middle-aged adults play for the greater good of society, more research is warranted to evaluate in which ways adversity could accumulate or pile-up to impact pertinent outcomes. We used data from a sample of middle-aged adults (n = 317, age 50-65 at baseline, 55% women) who were assessed monthly for a period of 2 years to examine whether the accumulation of adversity was predictive of depressive symptoms, life satisfaction, and character strengths (generativity, gratitude, the presence of meaning, and search for meaning). Greater accumulation of adversity was associated with reporting more depressive symptoms, lower life satisfaction, and the lower presence of meaning and the effects remained for depressive symptoms when accounting for concurrent adversity. More concurrent adversity was associated with reporting more depressive symptoms and lower life satisfaction and lower levels of generativity, gratitude, and the presence of meaning. Analyses that targeted specific domains of adversity showed that the accumulation of adversity associated with close family members (i.e., spouse/partner, children, and parents), and financial, and work domains showed the strongest (negative) associations across each outcome. Our findings demonstrate that monthly adversity take its toll on pertinent midlife outcomes and points to future research targeting mechanisms underlying our findings as well as resources that promote positive outcomes. Public Significance StatementMiddle-aged adults lead complex lives, which signifies the importance of identifying the sources of adversity that could exert the strongest impact on pertinent outcomes. We found that adversity that transpires with close family members (i.e., spouse/partner, children, and parents), and in the financial, and work realms show the strongest (negative) associations on mental health, well-being, and connection with others. Our findings showcase the domains that could be the target of interventions to help promote positive outcomes in middle-aged adults and provides impetus for future research targeting mechanisms underlying our findings as well as resources that promote positive outcomes.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 77%

Section: Midlife Is a Meaningful Period In The Life Coursementioning

confidence: 99%

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The accumulation of adversity in midlife: Effects on depressive symptoms, life satisfaction, and character strengths.

Infurna¹,

Staben²,

Gardner³

et al. 2023

Psychology and Aging

Self Cite

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“…The lack of a score for cognitive enrichment during midlife for 28% of our participants could explain why this relationship did not reach significance. In addition, racial and geographical disparities in opportunities for enrichment likely play a role (Staben et al, 2022).…”

Section: Limitations and Future Directionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Life course engagement in enriching activities: When and how does it matter for cognitive aging?

Frank¹,

Meister²,

Smith³

2023

Psychology and Aging

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Growing evidence suggests that participation in enriching activities (physical, social, and mental) across the life course is beneficial for cognitive functioning in older age. However, few studies have examined the effects of enrichment across the entire life course within the same participants. Using 2,931 participants in the Health and Retirement Study, we linked self-report data from later life and retrospective self-report data from early life and midlife to cognitive performance after Age 65. We categorized participants as having either high (top ∼25%) or average to low (bottom ∼75%) level of enrichment during each life period. Thus, eight groups were identified that reflected unique patterns of enrichment during early, mid, and later life (e.g., high-high-high). Using growth curve modeling, we found that life course enrichment patterns predicted both cognitive functioning and the rate of cognitive decline across five time points spanning 8 years (Aim 1). Groups with high enrichment during at least one life period had higher performance and slower decline in older age, compared to those who had average to low levels of enrichment throughout all three life periods. We also found that high enrichment during each life period independently predicted better cognitive performance and that high enrichment during early and later life also predicted slower cognitive decline (Aim 2). These findings support the idea that high enrichment is beneficial for cognition in later life and that the effects are long-lasting, even when individuals are inconsistent in enrichment engagement throughout the entire life course. Public Significance StatementThe present study suggests that enrichment does indeed matter for cognitive aging, and is beneficial across early, middle, and later life. This has implications for the creation of interventions designed to increase engagement in enriching physical, social and cognitive activities across the entire life course.

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“…There has been extensive documentation of socioeconomic, physical, and mental health disparities between majority identity groups and groups minoritized due to race (e.g. Forde et al, 2019;Staben et al, 2022), ethnicity (Blanco et al, 2007), sex at birth (Bent-Goodley, 2007), sexual orientation (Fredriksen-Goldsen et al, 2013), and gender identity (Lefevor et al, 2019); however, most studies have focused on populations with a single or small range of minoritized identities (Harari & Lee, 2021). Theories of intersectionality (López et al, 2012) and minority stress (Meyer, 2003) posit that individuals who hold multiple minoritized identities face increased risk of negative mental health outcomes and that discrimination may exacerbate this risk.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bearing the Weight of Intersectionality: Longitudinal Mental Health Disparities in Stress, Anxiety, and Depression in the COVID-19 Era

Weiss,

Gette,

Lopez-Castro

et al. 2024

Preprint

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The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated existing mental health disparities between majority and minoritized identity groups, across factors including race, ethnicity, sex at birth, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Though each of these identities has been related to disparities in mental health, little empirical research assesses 1) the cumulative and synergistic impact of holding multiple marginalized identities upon mental health, as predicted by intersectionality theory, 2) how these identities interact with discrimination, or 3) how holding minoritized identities might shape psychological responses to significant events. Here we use data from a longitudinal survey of a national sample of adults (N=1070) during the COVID-19 pandemic to investigate how intersectionality relates to experiences of discrimination, stress, anxiety, and depression. For each participant, a Composite Intersectionality (CI) score was calculated as the cumulative count of minoritized identities across race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Greater self-reported discrimination as measured by the Everyday Discrimination Scale was associated with increased mental health symptoms. Higher CI was associated with greater anxiety, depression, and stress but relationships for those highest in CI were most evident when accounting for discrimination. Further, CI differentially impacted mental health trajectories following events such as the murder of George Floyd and the 2020 presidential election, particularly when accounting for discrimination. These results suggest that minoritized stress operates through multiple pathways. The impact of identity on mental health can be more aptly captured with an intersectional model that includes discrimination.

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Examining Racial Disparities in Historical Change of Mental and Physical Health Across Midlife and Old Age in the United States

Cited by 4 publications

References 69 publications

The accumulation of adversity in midlife: Effects on depressive symptoms, life satisfaction, and character strengths.

The accumulation of adversity in midlife: Effects on depressive symptoms, life satisfaction, and character strengths.

Life course engagement in enriching activities: When and how does it matter for cognitive aging?

Bearing the Weight of Intersectionality: Longitudinal Mental Health Disparities in Stress, Anxiety, and Depression in the COVID-19 Era

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