A Longitudinal Population-based Study that Examines Discrimination, Health, and Work
by Ernest Gonzales, Boston University and William V. Padula, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
This longitudinal study seeks to explain a paradox: while African Americans may have strong financial motivations to work longer, why do they expect to, and actually do, retire earlier compared to non-Hispanic Whites or Hispanics? Some hypothesize that it is due to discrimination. This study explores the relationships between discrimination, health, retirement expectations, and labor force participation. Utilizing the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a baseline sample of respondents aged 50 to 61 and employed full- or part-time will be drawn from the HRS in 2006 and followed to 2014. Mixed-effects longitudinal data analysis and structural equation modeling will evaluate associations between ecological and lifetime contexts, health, retirement expectations, and labor force participation outcomes.