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Racial and ethnic health inequities in middle-aged and older adults
Book chapter

Racial and ethnic health inequities in middle-aged and older adults

Adolfo G. Cuevas, Ruijia Chen, Danielle M. Krobath, Patrick J. Smith, Michael V. Stanton, Agus Surachman and Haowei Wang
APA handbook of adult development and aging, pp 603-620
2026

Abstract

Health Disparities Health Outcomes Health Psychology & Medicine Middle Adulthood Older Adulthood Racial and Ethnic Differences Racial and Ethnic Groups Socioeconomic Disparities Aging
Racial and ethnic disparities in health pose a significant challenge for middle-aged and older adults in the United State. These disparities refer to the varying health outcomes experienced by people from different racial and ethnic backgrounds. Although disparities are present throughout an individual's life, starting in infancy, they become more pronounced during middle age and older adulthood. Nevertheless, these disparities manifest differently across racial and ethnic groups, necessitating a closer examination of these differences. This chapter discusses the disparities that are specific to the United States. Studies examining socioeconomic disparities, structural racism, stress, and biological aging have made significant strides in advancing our understanding of the causes and consequences of racial and ethnic health disparities in middle-aged and older adulthood. The chapter examines disparities across ecological contexts and throughout the life course while considering their biological, psychological, and social dimensions.

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