DIFFERENCES BY RACE IN THE DECLINE OF HEALTH OVER TIME

Previous research on race differences in health, we believe, has faile d to take into account the initial state of health of the respondents. Other research has demonstrated that elders in poor health are more l ikely to experience a change in their health over time. It is unclear if the greater probability of decline ill health observed among Africa n Americans is a result of being more likely to begin such observation s ill health states that are worse than those for Whites. This investi gation examines declines in health over a 30-month period in a sample of African American and White elders who began the study in similar '' good health.'' Findings support the supposition that African Americans are more likely to report a decline in their health, regardless of th e health measure used. Differences by race in thedecline of health app ear to be a consequence of economic and educational discrepancies betw een the two groups.