# Social disparities in physical functioning by race, ethnicity, and immigration status

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · 2021 · $338,063

## Abstract

Project Summary / Abstract
Although foreign-born Latinos have significantly higher life expectancy than non-Latino whites in the
U.S., they are more likely to spend those additional years of life with a disability. Socioeconomic
variations among race and ethnic groups cannot alone account for race/ethnic differences in
disability. Previous research on the causes of these inequalities has primarily focused on
explanations such as differential access to health care, early life conditions, environmental
exposures, personal health behaviors, and stress. We investigate another potential mechanism: race
and ethnic differences in work – i.e., the cumulative effects of physical and psychosocial conditions
experienced as work throughout life. The US occupational structure is highly stratified by
race/ethnicity and gender and extensive research on occupational health has demonstrated a strong
relationship between physical and psychosocial work conditions and health outcomes. Our goal is to
determine whether racial and ethnic differences in work conditions over the life course can account, in
part, for significantly higher limitations in physical functioning among middle aged and older Latinos
compared to whites. We use data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and match
employment histories from this survey with data on work conditions by occupational code for
respondents' jobs from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET). The analysis is based on
growth curve and hazard models of limitations in physical functioning and mortality as a function of
histories of work conditions and other variables. Reduced physical functioning can significantly
diminish quality of life at older ages and greatly increase health care expenditures. Functional
limitations are more common among social groups, including Latinos and particularly Latino
immigrants, who have the fewest resources to cope with these limitations. The results of this study
will significantly advance our knowledge of the role occupational segregation and work conditions in
leading to higher rates of functional limitations among the Latino population.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10071117
- **Project number:** 5R01AG061094-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- **Principal Investigator:** ANNE R PEBLEY
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $338,063
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-02-15 → 2023-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10071117

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10071117, Social disparities in physical functioning by race, ethnicity, and immigration status (5R01AG061094-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10071117. Licensed CC0.

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