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Functional Limitations and Nativity Status Among Older Arab, Asian, Black, Hispanic, and White Americans

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Abstract

To examine the association between nativity status (foreign and US-born) by race/ethnicity (Arab, Asian, black, Hispanic, white) on having a functional limitation. We used American Community Survey data (2001–2007; n = 1,964,777; 65+ years) and estimated odds ratios (95 % confidence intervals). In the crude model, foreign-born Blacks and Arabs were more likely, while Asians and Hispanics were less likely to report having a functional limitation compared to white. In the fully adjusted model, Blacks, Hispanics, and Asians were less likely, while Arabs were more likely to report having a functional limitation. In the crude model, US-born Blacks and Hispanics were more likely, while Asians and Arabs were less likely to report having a functional limitation compared to whites. Policies and programs tailored to foreign-born Arab Americans may help prevent or delay the onset of disability, especially when initiated shortly after their arrival to the US.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health (5P30 AG015281) and the Michigan Center for Urban African American Aging Research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Wellness, Health Promotion and Injury Prevention, School of Health Sciences, Oakland University, Rochester, MI, 48309-4401, USA

    Florence J. Dallo

  2. Department of Academic and Student Programs, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA

    Jason Booza

  3. Department of Family Medicine & Public Health Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA

    Jason Booza

  4. Department of Family and Community Medicine, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA

    Norma D. Nguyen

Authors
  1. Florence J. Dallo
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  2. Jason Booza
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  3. Norma D. Nguyen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Florence J. Dallo.

Appendix 1: Arab ancestries identified by the US 2000 census

Appendix 1: Arab ancestries identified by the US 2000 census

1. Aden

2. Algerian

3. Alhucemas

4. Arab

5. Arabic

6. Assyrian

7. Bahraini

8. Bedouin

9. Berber

10. Chaldean

11. Comoros

12. Djibouti

13. Egyptian

14. Gaza Strip

15. Ifni

16. Iraqi

17. Jordanian

18. Kurdish

19. Kuria Muria Islander

20. Kuwaiti

21. Lebanese

22. Libyan

23. Mauritania

24. Mideast

25. Moroccan

26. Muscat

27. North African

28. Omani

29. Palestinian

30. Qatar

31. Rio do Oro

32. Saudi Arabian

33. Somalia

34. South Yemen

35. Sudan

36. Syriac

37. Syrian

38. Transjordan

39. Trucial States

40. Tunisian

41. United Arab Emirates

42. West Bank

43. Yemeni

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Dallo, F.J., Booza, J. & Nguyen, N.D. Functional Limitations and Nativity Status Among Older Arab, Asian, Black, Hispanic, and White Americans. J Immigrant Minority Health 17, 535–542 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-013-9943-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-013-9943-0

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