Abstract
Psychopathology and chronic physical health conditions often co-occur among aging populations. Yet African Americans generally report more physical than mental health problems. This study examined social patterns in psychophysiological well-being among African Americans. Analyses were based on 697 individuals ages 22 to 92 in the Carolina African American Twin Study of Aging. Outcomes assessed include depressive symptoms (CES-D), life satisfaction, hypertension, and body mass index. Analyses identified three latent classes (Entropy2=0.65; AIC=136.12; Adjusted-BIC=176.43): (1) good physical/poor mental health (34%), (2) fair physical/good mental health (50%), and (3) poor physical/mental health (16%). Health status varied significantly by sociodemographic characteristics; younger African Americans had higher risk of poor mental/good physical health (p<0.001), while poor mental/physical health was associated with older age (p<0.001). Study findings demonstrate social patterns in psychophysiological well-being and suggest that the co-occurrence of physical/mental health problems are more prevalent in later life among African Americans.