Early Adult Characteristics and Mortality Among Inner-City African American Women

• Published in: American journal of public health (1971) Vol. 92; no. 4; pp. 640 - 645
• Main Authors: Astone, Nan Marie, Ensminger, Margaret, Juon, Hee Soon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC Am Public Health Assoc 01.04.2002; American Public Health Association; American Journal of Public Health 2002
• Subjects: Adult; African Americans; African Americans - statistics & numerical data; Age; Analysis. Health state; Biological and medical sciences; Black American people; Chicago - epidemiology; Children & youth; Cohort analysis; Cohort Studies; Epidemiology; Families & family life; Female; General aspects; Health risk assessment; Humans; Inner cities; Inner city; Interviews; Longevity; Longitudinal Studies; Maternal Age; Medical sciences; Minority Groups - statistics & numerical data; Mortality; Mothers; Mothers - statistics & numerical data; Poverty; Poverty Areas; Predictors; Public health; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Research and Practice; Risk Factors; Social classes; Social networks; Social Support; Socioeconomic Factors; Urban areas; Urban Health; USA; Women; Women's Health; Young adults; Chicago; Human; Health; Mortality; Religion; Social class; Longevity; Epidemiology; Ethnic group; Social participation; Sociodemographic factor; Race; Adult; Female; Predictive factor; Public health; African American
• ISSN: 0090-0036; 1541-0048
• DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.92.4.640

This study examined predictors of longevity in a cohort of inner-city African American women. Data were derived from a cohort study of inner-city African American mothers whose median age in 1966 was 31 years. Analyses involved single-decrement life tables and pooled logistic regression. Giving birth for the first time before age 25 and having at least a high school education predicted longevity in this sample. Effects of later age at first delivery in terms of mortality risk were stronger after 55 years and, especially, after 70 years. The findings offer support for Geronimus's weathering hypothesis. Predictors of longevity among African Americans may be distinct from predictors for the population as a whole.