HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Cited by other online articles Google Scholar Articles by Barnes, L. L. Articles by Evans, D. A. Articles citing this Article PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Barnes, L. L. Articles by Evans, D. A.

A Longitudinal Study of Black–White Differences in Social Resources

¹ Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center
² Rush Institute for Healthy Aging Departments of
³ Neurological Sciences
⁴ Internal Medicine
⁵ Preventive Medicine
⁶ Psychology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois.

Address correspondence to Dr. Lisa L. Barnes, RADC, 600 S. Paulina, Suite 1038, Chicago, IL, 60612. E-mail: Lisa_L_Barnes{at}rush.edu

Objectives. This study examined the differences in levels of social networks and social engagement between older Blacks and Whites and racial differences in rates of change in social resources over time.

Methods. The sample consisted of 5,102 Blacks and Whites, aged 65 and older, from the Chicago Health and Aging Project, who underwent up to three interviews during an average of 5.3 years of follow-up. Repeated measures of social networks were based on the number of children, relatives, and friends seen at least once a month. Social engagement was measured at each interview with four items related to social and productive activity. Random effects models were fitted to test the effect of race on social resources and change in resources over time.

Results. Blacks had smaller social networks and lower levels of social engagement than Whites. Racial differences in these resources were stable during follow-up. Socioeconomic status reduced racial differences in social engagement but not social networks.

Discussion. The findings provide evidence for lower levels of social resources among older Blacks. There was little evidence that racial differences were the result of greater decline during old age itself.

This article has been cited by other articles: (Search Google Scholar for Other Citing Articles)

				P. Dilworth-Anderson, B. H. Brummett, P. Goodwin, S. W. Williams, R. B. Williams, and I. C. Siegler Effect of Race on Cultural Justifications for Caregiving J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., September 1, 2005; 60(5): S257 - S262. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]