The Effect of Financial Strain on the Health Outcomes of Older Mexican-Origin Adults: Findings From the Hispanic Established Population for the Epidemiological Study of the Elderly (H-EPESE)

Abstract

Predictors of health across the life-course do not maintain the same significance in very late life and the role of financial strain in health outcomes of very old adults remain unclear. Data from adults aged 74  +  in waves 5 and 7 of the Hispanic Established Population for the Epidemiological Study of the Elderly (n  =  772) study was used to evaluate the role of financial strain on the health of older Mexican Americans who have the highest poverty rate of any racial or ethnic group in the United States. We evaluate the association between episodic (one wave) and persistent financial strain (two waves), with follow-up health outcomes (self-rated health, ADL (limitations in activities of daily living)/IADL (limitations in instrumental activities of daily living) disability, and depressive symptoms). Adults with persistent strain were twice as likely to experience depressive symptoms and three times more likely to experience IADL limitations than the unstrained. Our findings highlight the role of stress proliferation and allostatic load processes leading to deteriorated health over time.