Presented at the Health and Society Conference at the University of Nicosia Nicosia, Cyprus April 5, 5009 By: Dr. Tariqah A. Nuriddin, Assistant Professor of Sociology Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Howard University, Washington, DC U.S.A.

Older adults represent one of the fastest growing segments of American society and health care expenditures Low SES has been associated with significant health decline including higher rates of mortality Low SES has been associated with significant health decline including higher rates of mortality Socioeconomically disadvantaged community context may explain racial disparities in adult health Socioeconomically disadvantaged community context may explain racial disparities in adult health

Marriage has been associated with greater psychological gain, physical health rewards, and lower mortality Marriage has been associated with greater psychological gain, physical health rewards, and lower mortality Marriage can be one of the most cherished relationships in adulthood Marriage can be one of the most cherished relationships in adulthood Spousal loss may have potentially harmful health consequences associated with it Spousal loss may have potentially harmful health consequences associated with it

1- Are constrained financial resources deleterious to the health status of married and widowed older adults? 2- What is the role of poor neighborhood condition on the morbidity status of older married and widowed adults? 3- Between the two groups, which group does socio-economic determinants play a more critical factor in terms of increased morbidity?

Secondary data analysis using CLOC-Changing Lives of Older Couples data Secondary data analysis using CLOC-Changing Lives of Older Couples data Longitudinal data set that measures spousal bereavement prospectively from Longitudinal data set that measures spousal bereavement prospectively from Random sample of Detroit Metropolitan area older adults Random sample of Detroit Metropolitan area older adults Face to face interviews conducted 6, 12, and 48 months after spousal loss Face to face interviews conducted 6, 12, and 48 months after spousal loss Baseline =1,532 married men and women Baseline =1,532 married men and women Over sample of women with husbands aged 65 years of age or older Over sample of women with husbands aged 65 years of age or older 83% response rate for participation in at least one of the follow-up interviews 83% response rate for participation in at least one of the follow-up interviews

 Independent Variables:  Race  Female  Age  Education  Total household income  Home ownership  Spousal retirement status  Self-rated health  Cigarette usage  Neighborhood characteristics  Time from baseline to widowhood  Dependent Variables:  Morbidity  Self-reports within the last 12 months  Includes the following:  Diabetes  Hypertension  Lung disease  Cancer  and Heart trouble/Heart attack

 Basic Characteristics of Sample at Baseline:  Predominantly female  Average age=69  11%- African American  Averaged approx. 11 years of schooling  Majority owned their own homes  Were non-smokers  Had unkempt yards/sidewalks  Married adults (N=1,473)  Race, Age, Income, Self- rated health, and smoking status significantly related to morbidity  Widowed Adult Follow-Up (N= 215)  Age, self-rated health, smoking status, education, home ownership, building upkeep, and unkempt yards/sidewalk associated with higher levels of morbidity.

 1- Findings reveal socio-economic determinants have an impact on later-life morbidity prevalence among both married and widowed adults  2- The widowed appear to be more constrained by both personal finances as well as neighborhood characteristics  3- In both OLS models, younger age, poorer self-rated health, and non-smoking status was associated with greater levels of morbidity for both married & widowed adults

Scope of study need not be limited to Detroit, Michigan (United States) Scope of study need not be limited to Detroit, Michigan (United States) Elderly depend on resources (i.e. material/structural, health resources, and support) for survival Elderly depend on resources (i.e. material/structural, health resources, and support) for survival Material/structural resources may serve to either reduce morbidity rates or add to the growing problem of morbidity in the United States if left unchanged Material/structural resources may serve to either reduce morbidity rates or add to the growing problem of morbidity in the United States if left unchanged