This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hays, J. C. Articles by George, L. K. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

The Life-Course Trajectory toward Living Alone

Racial Differences

Duke University Medical Center

Linda K. George

Duke University

Objectives: Dramatic increases in living alone in late life have been associated with higher incomes and better health, obscuring the risk to subgroups living alone with diminished health and socioeconomic resources. This study describes race differences in the stability and life-course antecedents of living alone. Method: The prospective cohort study used data from the Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly at Duke University (n = 4,132) to estimate 10-yearprevalence, incidence, and predictors of living alone among Black and White elders. Results: New episodes of living alone were equally likely. Black elders’lower prevalence of living alone was a function of their 80 percent greater probability of a new coresident episode. Home ownership, residential tenure, and perceived good health were lower among Blacks living alone, compared to Whites, who had fewer living children. Stressful life events had similar effects on household size. Discussion: Race differences in late life household size were primarily dependent on decisions embedded in midlife.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. F. Sergeant, D. J. Ekerdt, and R. Chapin Measurement of Late-Life Residential Relocation: Why Are Rates for Such a Manifest Event So Varied? J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., March 1, 2008; 63(2): S92 - S98. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. A. McKinzie, J. P. Reinhardt, and D. Benn Adaptation to Chronic Vision Impairment: Does African American or Caucasian Race Make a Difference? Research on Aging, March 1, 2007; 29(2): 144 - 162. [Abstract] [PDF]

				C. W. Peek, T. Koropeckyj-Cox, B. A. Zsembik, and R. T. Coward Race Comparisons of the Household Dynamics of Older Adults Research on Aging, March 1, 2004; 26(2): 179 - 201. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. C. Hays, C. F. Pieper, and J. L. Purser Competing Risk of Household Expansion or Institutionalization in Late Life J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., January 1, 2003; 58(1): S11 - 20. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]