Abstract:

There is currently much debate about the relationship between multiple jeopardy (MJ) & health in older women. MJ is the combination of 2+ social disadvantages - eg, poverty, status as a racial minority, or social isolation - & is typically thought to increase the likelihood that aging will generate problematic outcomes, though it has been suggested that those with MJ are highly adaptive & utilize personal, familial, & community resources more fully than others. To determine the interaction of age, race, living arrangements, & education on self-reported health, data from 4,800 people ages 60+ were drawn from the 1986 Statewide Survey of the Needs of Senior Tennesseans. Through saturated logistic regression, data reveal that older age, being single or widowed, & status as a racial minority did not influence negative health assessment for women; however, women without a high school education were most likely to report poor or fair fitness, regardless of other demographic factors. It is concluded that the circumstances of life for older women deserve more research.