Characterizing Aging-Related Health in Older Women with a History of Incarceration: Multimorbidity,Polypharmacy,Mortality,Frailty,and Depression

Abstract

Older women with criminal legal system involvement (CLSI) face aging-related challenges to health earlier and with fewer resources than other women. Few studies focus on their health status and aging-related health needs.

Objective

To characterize aging-related health in women with past CLSI and compare with women with no-CLSI.

Method

Health and Retirement Study Wave 11 and 12 data from women age >50 with CLSI were compared with data from women age >50 with no-CLSI. Generalized linear models were estimated for aging-related health outcomes.

Results

The group with CLSI (n = 230) was significantly younger than the no-CLSI group (n = 8035) yet had more physical, functional, and mental health challenges and fewer resources. Incarceration significantly predicted aging-related outcomes of multimorbidity, polypharmacy, mortality, frailty, and depression.

Discussion

Earlier onset of physical and functional health conditions in women with past CLSI has implications for health education and promotion, clinical practice, and intervention design.

Keywords

social factors lifecourse frailty

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