Age,Ethnicity,and Well-Being

Abstract

In this article we reexamine the issue of age differences in well-being, focusing on ethnic variations in this relationship. Data are from 1269 Los Angeles residents (407 Anglos, 413 blacks, and 449 Mexican Americans) between the ages of 45 and 74. Two measures of well-being were analyzed: Lawton's Philadelphia Geriatric Morale Scale and a single-item indicator of happiness. Results suggest that: (1) The overall relationship between age and well-being is strongly positive for Anglos, once controls are introduced for sex, marital status, income, health, and schooling; and (2) the slope of the relationship between age and well-being is similar for blacks and Anglos, but much smaller for Mexican Americans. Results suggest clear ethnic differences in the net advantage that advancing age offers to well-being. The relevance of the findings for the double-jeopardy hypothesis is discussed.

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