Racial Segregation and Longevity among African Americans: An Individual-Level Analysis

Abstract

Objective. To test the relationship between racial segregation and mortality using a multidimensional questionnaire-based measure of exposure to segregation. Data Sources. Data for this analysis come from the National Survey of Black Americans (NSBA), a national multistage probability sample of 2,107 African Americans (aged 18–101). The NSBA was conducted as a household survey. The NSBA was matched with the National Death Index (NDI). Study Design. Prospective cohort study, where Cox regression analysis was used to examine the effect of baseline variables on time to death over a 13-year period. Principal Findings. Respondents who were exposed to racial segregation were significantly less likely to survive the study period after controls for age, health status, and other predictors of mortality. Conclusion. The results support previous studies linking segregation with health outcomes.