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Rethinking the Hispanic paradox: Death rates and life expectancy for US non-Hispanic White and Hispanic populations

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  • Smith, D.P.
  • Bradshaw, B.S.

Abstract

Objectives. We examined the "Hispanic paradox," whereby persons of Hispanic origin seemed to experience lower mortality than the non-Hispanic White population. This paradox coincided with a change from the classification of deaths and population by Spanish surname to the use of Hispanic-origin questions in the census and vital statistics. Methods. To estimate US Hispanic and non-Hispanic White mortality, we applied a familiar relation between death rates for population subgroups to Hispanic and non-Hispanic White population death rates. We calculated age-specific death rates for the Hispanic population and the non-Hispanic White population and computed life tables for each. Result. For Texas between 1980 (surname) and 1990 (origin), the change in Hispanic deaths in persons aged 65 years or older was only half as great as the change in population size, implying a relative omission of 15% to 20% of deaths. By a different approach, the life tables for the US Hispanic and non-Hispanic White populations pointed to a similar omission. Conclusions. There is no "Hispanic paradox." The Hispanic paradox described in past research derives from inconsistencies in counts of Hispanic-origin deaths and populations.

Suggested Citation

  • Smith, D.P. & Bradshaw, B.S., 2006. "Rethinking the Hispanic paradox: Death rates and life expectancy for US non-Hispanic White and Hispanic populations," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 96(9), pages 1686-1692.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2003.035378_0
    DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2003.035378
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    Cited by:

    1. David M. Cutler & Adriana Lleras-Muney & Tom Vogl, 2008. "Socioeconomic Status and Health: Dimensions and Mechanisms," NBER Working Papers 14333, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Janice Compton & Robert A Pollak, 2021. "The life expectancy of older couples and surviving spouses," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(5), pages 1-13, May.
    3. Miguel Ángel Salinero-Fort & Paloma Gómez-Campelo & Carmen Bragado-Alvárez & Juan Carlos Abánades-Herranz & Rodrigo Jiménez-García & Carmen de Burgos-Lunar & on behalf of the Health & Immigration Grou, 2015. "Health-Related Quality of Life of Latin-American Immigrants and Spanish-Born Attended in Spanish Primary Health Care: Socio-Demographic and Psychosocial Factors," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(4), pages 1-17, April.
    4. Julia Holmes & Anne Driscoll & Melonie Heron, 2015. "Mortality among US-born and immigrant Hispanics in the US: effects of nativity, duration of residence, and age at immigration," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 60(5), pages 609-617, July.
    5. Daniel Powers, 2013. "Paradox Revisited: A Further Investigation of Racial/Ethnic Differences in Infant Mortality by Maternal Age," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 50(2), pages 495-520, April.
    6. Robert Hummer & Daniel Powers & Starling Pullum & Ginger Gossman & W. Frisbie, 2007. "Paradox found (again): Infant mortality among the Mexican-origin population in the united states," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 44(3), pages 441-457, August.
    7. Teresa Ghilarducci & Kyle Moore, 2015. "Racially Disparate Effects of Raising the Retirement Age," SCEPA working paper series. 2015-03, Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis (SCEPA), The New School.
    8. Colen, Cynthia G. & Ramey, David M. & Cooksey, Elizabeth C. & Williams, David R., 2018. "Racial disparities in health among nonpoor African Americans and Hispanics: The role of acute and chronic discrimination," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 199(C), pages 167-180.
    9. Esme Fuller Thomson & Amani Nuru-Jeter & Dawn Richardson & Ferrah Raza & Meredith Minkler, 2013. "The Hispanic Paradox and Older Adults’ Disabilities: Is There a Healthy Migrant Effect?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-29, May.
    10. Ousey, Graham C., 2017. "Crime is not the only problem: Examining why violence & adverse health outcomes co-vary across large U.S. counties," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 29-41.
    11. Bridget Fisher, 2015. "The Myth of Self-Financing: The Trade-Offs Behind the Hudson Yards Redevelopment Project," SCEPA working paper series. 2015-04, Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis (SCEPA), The New School.
    12. Teresa Ghilarducci & Bridget Fisher & Kyle Moore, 2015. "The Hispanic Health Paradox," SCEPA policy note series. 2015-03, Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis (SCEPA), The New School.

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