Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Comparative Study
. 2006 May;96(5):826-33.
doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2004.060749. Epub 2005 Dec 27.

"Weathering" and age patterns of allostatic load scores among blacks and whites in the United States

Arline T Geronimus  1 , Margaret Hicken, Danya Keene, John Bound
Affiliations
Comparative Study

"Weathering" and age patterns of allostatic load scores among blacks and whites in the United States

Arline T Geronimus et al. Am J Public Health. 2006 May.

Abstract

Objectives: We considered whether US Blacks experience early health deterioration, as measured across biological indicators of repeated exposure and adaptation to stressors.

Methods: Using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, we examined allostatic load scores for adults aged 18-64 years. We estimated probability of a high score by age, race, gender, and poverty status and Blacks' odds of having a high score relative to Whites' odds.

Results: Blacks had higher scores than did Whites and had a greater probability of a high score at all ages, particularly at 35-64 years. Racial differences were not explained by poverty. Poor and nonpoor Black women had the highest and second highest probability of high allostatic load scores, respectively, and the highest excess scores compared with their male or White counterparts.

Conclusions: We found evidence that racial inequalities in health exist across a range of biological systems among adults and are not explained by racial differences in poverty. The weathering effects of living in a race-conscious society may be greatest among those Blacks most likely to engage in high-effort coping.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

FIGURE 1—
FIGURE 1—
Probability of having an allostatic load of 4 or higher, as predicted by race (a) and race and gender (b).
FIGURE 1—
FIGURE 1—
Probability of having an allostatic load of 4 or higher, as predicted by race (a) and race and gender (b).
FIGURE 2—
FIGURE 2—
Probability of having an allostatic load of 4 or higher, as predicted by poverty income ratio (a) and poverty income ratio and race (b). Note. PIR = poverty income ratio.
FIGURE 2—
FIGURE 2—
Probability of having an allostatic load of 4 or higher, as predicted by poverty income ratio (a) and poverty income ratio and race (b). Note. PIR = poverty income ratio.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

  • What's missing from the weathering hypothesis?
    Thomas NM. Thomas NM. Am J Public Health. 2006 Jun;96(6):955; author reply 955-6. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2006.085514. Epub 2006 May 2. Am J Public Health. 2006. PMID: 16670215 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

References

    1. Elo IT, Preston SH. Educational differentials in mortality: United States, 1979–85. Soc Sci Med. 1996; 42:47–57. - PubMed
    1. Geronimus AT. The weathering hypothesis and the health of African-American women and infants: evidence and speculations. Ethn Dis. 1992;2:207–221. - PubMed
    1. Geronimus AT, Bound J, Waidmann TA, Colen CG, Steffick D. Inequality in life expectancy, functional status, and active life expectancy across selected black and white populations in the United States. Demography. 2001;38:227–251. - PubMed
    1. Wong MD, Shapiro MF, Boscardin WJ, Ettner SL. Contribution of major diseases to disparities in mortality. N Engl J Med. 2002;347:1585–1592. - PubMed
    1. Geronimus AT, Bound J, Waidmann TA, Hillemeier MM, Burns PB. Excess mortality among blacks and whites in the United States. N Engl J Med. 1996; 335:1552–1558. - PubMed

Publication types