Reporting Race and Ethnicity in Aging in Place Research A Systematic Review
Bonnie Albright, Leslie E Green, Denise R McAllisterAbstract
Background and Objectives
Despite differences in housing experience across people from different racial and ethnic groups in the United States, race and ethnicity are not frequently emphasized in aging in place literature. This review cataloged the approach to race and ethnicity (active or passive) taken by quantitative aging in place research articles. This review also tested whether structural research elements were associated with the approach taken.
Research Design and Methods
This study included original research articles with samples of non-institutionalized older U.S. residents. Included articles addressed an aspect of aging in place related to the physical home, used statistical modeling, and were published between 2014 and 2023. Because an initial database search in this interdisciplinary field did not produce a comprehensive list of articles, the review sample was constructed through manual review of journal tables of contents.
Results
Approximately one third (35.16%) of the 91 sample articles took an active approach to race and ethnicity. The regression model did not detect statistically significant associations between structural research elements and active approach; however, wide confidence intervals indicate that meaningful effects cannot be ruled out.
Discussion and Implications
Even in the presence of a strong and historic association between race and ethnicity and housing, a passive approach to race and ethnicity was most common. This presents a gap in the existing body of aging in place literature. Practical suggestions for addressing this gap through future research are presented. A multidisciplinary symposium to develop more formal suggestions is recommended.