Hispanic-White Differences in Lifespan Variability in the United States

Abstract

This study is the first to investigate whether and, if so, why Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites in the United States differ in the variability of their lifespans. Although Hispanics enjoy higher life expectancy than whites, very little is known about how lifespan variability—and thus uncertainty about length of life—differs by race/ethnicity. We use 2010 U.S. National Vital Statistics System data to calculate lifespan variance at ages 10 and older for Hispanics and whites, and then decompose the Hispanic-white variance difference into cause-specific spread, allocation, and timing effects. In addition to their higher life expectancy relative to whites, Hispanics also exhibit 7 % lower lifespan variability, with a larger gap among women than men. Differences in cause-specific incidence (allocation effects) explain nearly two-thirds of Hispanics’ lower lifespan variability, mainly because of the higher mortality from suicide, accidental poisoning, and lung cancer among whites. Most of the remaining Hispanic-white variance difference is due to greater age dispersion (spread effects) in mortality from heart disease and residual causes among whites than Hispanics. Thus, the Hispanic paradox—that a socioeconomically disadvantaged population (Hispanics) enjoys a mortality advantage over a socioeconomically advantaged population (whites)—pertains to lifespan variability as well as to life expectancy. Efforts to reduce U.S. lifespan variability and simultaneously increase life expectancy, especially for whites, should target premature, young adult causes of death—in particular, suicide, accidental poisoning, and homicide. We conclude by discussing how the analysis of Hispanic-white differences in lifespan variability contributes to our understanding of the Hispanic paradox.

Latin American convergence and divergence towards the mortality profiles of developed countries

“…Previous research on lifespan variability has shown similar patterns at the subnational level. Lariscy et al (2016) also found that most of the difference in lifespan variance between Hispanics and Whites in the US is due to the large age dispersion (spread effects) of diseases. Despite the generalized mortality disadvantage of LAC, some countries, such as Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, and Uruguay, have experienced rapid progress over recent decades, which has led them to achieve similar life expectancies and lifespan variability to those seen in the developed world.…”

The increasing lifespan variation gradient by area-level deprivation: A decomposition analysis of Scotland 1981–2011

“…While in Central and Eastern European countries, changes in alcohol consumption were directly linked to fluctuating lifespan variation (Aburto and van Raalte, 2017). The role external causes of death play in determining lifespan variation levels extents to studies of population subgroups (Lariscy et al, 2016; Nau and Firebaugh, 2012; van Raalte et al, 2018). The value of lifespan variation is that it is sensitive to these mortality premature mortality crises.…”

Hispanic health in the USA: a scoping review of the literature

“…The median age of the US Hispanic population is 27 years, as compared to the US population (37 years) and NHWs (42 years) [ 29 , 30 ]. Life expectancy at birth is longer for Hispanics (79.1 years for males, 83.8 for females) than for NHWs (76.5 years for males, 81.2 for females) (23), and Hispanics have a lower lifespan variability than do NHWs [ 31 ]. The growth of the US Hispanic population has created a significant racial/ethnic generational gap in the USA; in 2010, 34.9% of Hispanics were under the age of 18 compared to 20.9% of NHWs [ 32 ].…”