Race-Ethnic Differences in the Effects of COVID-19 on the Work, Stress, and Financial Outcomes of Older Adults

J Aging Health. 2023 Oct;35(9):749-760. doi: 10.1177/08982643231159705. Epub 2023 Mar 4.

Abstract

Objectives: This study investigates race-ethnic differences among older non-Hispanic Black, non-Hispanic White, and Hispanic adults' financial, employment, and stress consequences of COVID-19.

Methods: We use data from the Health and Retirement Study, including the 2020 COVID-panel, to evaluate a sample of 2,929 adults using a combination of bivariate tests, OLS regression analysis, and moderation tests.

Results: Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black older adults experienced more financial hardships, higher levels of COVID-19 stress, and higher rates of job loss associated with COVID-19 relative to their Non-Hispanic White counterparts. Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic adults reported significantly higher levels of COVID-19 resilience resources, yet, these resources were not protective of the consequences of COVID-19.

Discussion: Understanding how the experiences of managing and coping with COVID-19 stressors differ by race-ethnicity can better inform intervention design and support services.

Keywords: COVID-19; financial; psychological resilience; race; stress.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Black or African American
  • COVID-19* / economics
  • COVID-19* / epidemiology
  • COVID-19* / ethnology
  • COVID-19* / psychology
  • Cost of Illness*
  • Employment
  • Ethnicity
  • Financial Stress / epidemiology
  • Financial Stress / ethnology
  • Hispanic or Latino
  • Humans
  • Stress, Psychological*
  • White