A study of 1098 Japanese and 873 Caucasians sixty years of age and over from Hawaii State Department of Health data files revealed that better health was predicted not only by younger age, higher family income, and maintenance of work role, but also by Japanese ethnicity. Standardized partial regression coefficients showed ethnic membership per se to be as important as any of the demographic variables. Canonical correlation yielded the best correlation of the independent variables with a health index made up of number of chronic conditions, number of bed days and number of restricted days, with each of equal weight. Findings suggest the importance of ethno-cultural supports in health maintenance of the elderly, and have theoretical relevance for the role of culture in health.
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