Cross-national differences in disability among elders: Transitions in disability in Mexico and the United States

Kerstin Gerst-Emerson, Rebeca Wong, Alejandra Michaels-Obregon, Alberto Palloni

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objectives. Little is known about how exposure to a combination of infectious and chronic conditions throughout the lifecourse could impact disability in old age. This paper compares 2 cohorts of adults who have aged under very different country contexts by contrasting disability transitions among elders in Mexico with elders in the United States. Methods. Data comes from the Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS) and the U.S. Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Estimated probabilities of 2-year transitions among disability states and mortality are presented for adults aged 50 and older. Results. The levels of disability prevalence and 2 year transitions are consistent with a higher rate of disability for the United States compared to Mexico. In 2-year transitions, the U.S. sample was more likely to transition to a disabled state or increase the number of disabilities than the Mexican counterparts, while Mexicans are more likely to move out of disability or reduce the number of disabilities reported. Discussion. The findings suggest that the current rate of disability in old age is lower for a less developed country compared with a developed society. We discuss implications, possible explanations, and likely future scenarios.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)759-768
Number of pages10
JournalJournals of Gerontology - Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
Volume70
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2015

Keywords

  • Disability
  • Elders
  • Mexico
  • United States

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Health(social science)
  • Sociology and Political Science
  • Life-span and Life-course Studies

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