ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to examine the temporal trends and dynamics of financial hardship among older adults in the U.S. between 2006 and 2016 using the Health and Retirement Study. Sample included a total of 13,537 eligible person observations with a median age of 68 years. Financial hardship included measures of difficulty paying bills, food insecurity, taking less medication due to cost, and ongoing financial strain. Regression analyses were performed using a three-wave quadrennial model to estimate the prevalence of financial hardship over time, to explore temporal patterns and identify persistent hardship. Findings reveal that 51% of respondents who experienced food insecurity at one or more waves were transient. This pattern was similar to respondents who experienced ongoing financial strain (52% transient). Respondents who reported difficulty paying bills (68%) and reduced medications due to cost (62%) were also transient. Significant predictors across all four domains of financial hardship include age, years of education, marital status, self-rated health. Being African American was positively associated with reduced medication use and food insecurity. This study provides insight into the temporal dynamics of financial hardship in later life. It also highlights the contiguous, intermediate and transient nature of financial hardship among older adult populations.

摘要

本研究的目的是使用健康与退休研究来检查 2006 年至 2016 年间美国老年人经济困难的时间趋势和动态。样本包括总共 13,537 名符合条件的人员观察，平均年龄为 68 岁。财务困难包括难以支付账单、粮食不安全、因成本而减少服药以及持续的财务压力。使用三波四年模型进行回归分析，以估计随着时间的推移财务困难的普遍性，探索时间模式并确定持续的困难。调查结果显示，在一波或多波中经历过粮食不安全的受访者中有 51% 是短暂的。这种模式与经历持续财务压力的受访者相似（52% 是暂时的）。报告支付账单困难（68%）和因成本而减少用药（62%）的受访者也是短暂的。跨越所有四个经济困难领域的重要预测因素包括年龄、受教育年限、婚姻状况、自评健康状况。成为非裔美国人与减少药物使用和粮食不安全呈正相关。这项研究提供了对晚年经济困难的时间动态的洞察。它还强调了老年人口中经济困难的连续性、中间性和暂时性。成为非裔美国人与减少药物使用和粮食不安全呈正相关。这项研究提供了对晚年经济困难的时间动态的洞察。它还强调了老年人口中经济困难的连续性、中间性和暂时性。成为非裔美国人与减少药物使用和粮食不安全呈正相关。这项研究提供了对晚年经济困难的时间动态的洞察。它还强调了老年人口中经济困难的连续性、中间性和暂时性。