Table 2.
Description of the Sample Characteristics According to Older Adults’ Receipt of Functional and Health Support (n = 2,288)
| Functional support | Health support | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No | Yes | Total | No | Yes | Total | |
| Characteristics | n = 1,748 | n = 540 | n = 2,288 | n = 1,669 | n = 619 | n = 2,288 |
| % Living arrangement*** | ||||||
| Alone | 29.07 | 21.17 | 27.45 | 25.76 | 32.27 | 27.45 |
| With spouse | 61.10 | 35.13 | 55.77 | 64.48 | 30.98 | 55.77 |
| With children | 9.83 | 43.70 | 16.78 | 9.76 | 36.75 | 16.78 |
| % Age*** | ||||||
| 60–69 | 43.68 | 25.32 | 39.92 | 42.73 | 31.9 | 39.92 |
| 70–79 | 44.18 | 42.69 | 43.88 | 44.81 | 41.21 | 43.88 |
| 80+ | 12.14 | 31.99 | 16.21 | 12.46 | 26.89 | 16.21 |
| % Gender*** | ||||||
| Women | 49.50 | 80.34 | 55.83 | 47.96 | 78.26 | 55.83 |
| Men | 50.50 | 19.66 | 44.17 | 52.04 | 21.74 | 44.17 |
| Number of living children, mean** | 3.73 | 4.70 | 3.93 | 3.73 | 4.48 | 3.93 |
| % Education attainment*** | ||||||
| Less than high school | 61.68 | 75.54 | 64.52 | 59.22 | 79.64 | 64.52 |
| High school/general education diploma | 23.19 | 16.57 | 21.83 | 24.5 | 14.24 | 21.83 |
| College | 15.13 | 7.90 | 13.64 | 16.29 | 6.12 | 13.64 |
| % Perceived income inadequacy** | ||||||
| None | 57.48 | 4.71 | 55.35 | 58.48 | 46.45 | 55.35 |
| Sometimes | 3.31 | 39.14 | 34.34 | 33.10 | 37.87 | 34.34 |
| Frequently | 9.42 | 13.76 | 10.31 | 8.42 | 15.68 | 10.31 |
| % Activities of daily living (ADL) limitations*** | ||||||
| None | 86.13 | 6.77 | 82.35 | 86.07 | 71.75 | 82.35 |
| At least one ADL | 13.87 | 32.30 | 17.65 | 13.93 | 28.25 | 17.65 |
| % Instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) limitations*** | ||||||
| None | 78.96 | 46.66 | 72.33 | 76.79 | 59.62 | 72.33 |
| At least one IADL | 21.04 | 53.34 | 27.67 | 23.21 | 40.38 | 27.67 |
| % Chronic conditions*** | ||||||
| None | 9.20 | 4.21 | 8.17 | 9.64 | 3.99 | 8.17 |
| 1 condition | 18.55 | 11.62 | 17.13 | 18.89 | 12.10 | 17.13 |
| 2 conditions | 26.97 | 24.82 | 26.53 | 26.63 | 26.26 | 26.53 |
| 3 conditions | 23.05 | 25.31 | 23.51 | 23.01 | 24.94 | 23.51 |
| 4+ conditions | 22.23 | 34.04 | 24.66 | 21.83 | 32.70 | 24.66 |
| % Received functional support from others | ||||||
| No | 84.11 | 84.57 | 84.20 | na | na | na |
| Yes | 15.89 | 15.43 | 15.80 | na | na | na |
| % Provided grandchild care | ||||||
| No | 65.56 | 69.62 | 66.39 | 65.98 | 67.58 | 66.39 |
| Yes | 34.44 | 30.38 | 33.61 | 34.02 | 32.42 | 33.61 |
Notes: na = not applicable.
**p < .01. ***p < .001. Pearson chi-square or adjusted Wald tests showing statistically significant differences for receipt of support.
Source: Authors’ own calculations, Puerto Rican Elderly Health Conditions (PREHCO) 2006–2007.