2018-2022 American Community Survey companion data files for evaluating cognitive difficulty using 2020 and 2030 US Census racial and ethnic categories
Principal Investigator(s): View help for Principal Investigator(s) Tiffany Kindratt, University of Texas at Arlington; Basma Tnesh, University of Texas at Arlington
Version: View help for Version V1
Version Title: View help for Version Title Version 1 (SSM)
| Name | File Type | Size | Last Modified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presentation-Files | 08/14/2025 01:41:PM | ||
| STATA-Do-File | 08/14/2025 01:41:PM |
Project Citation:
Kindratt, Tiffany, and Tnesh, Basma. 2018-2022 American Community Survey companion data files for evaluating cognitive difficulty using 2020 and 2030 US Census racial and ethnic categories. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2025-08-14. https://doi.org/10.3886/E237213V1
Project Description
Summary:
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ABSTRACT
In March 2024, the Office of Management and Budget updated guidelines for measuring race/ethnicity on federal forms in the United States (US). By March 2029, Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) Americans will have a new category. This population was previously included in the definition for the White race. It is unknown how this change will alter health estimates for other racial/ethnic groups, particularly among the aging population that has become increasingly diverse. Using cognitive difficulty as the health outcome of interest, our objectives were to 1) compare the prevalence of cognitive difficulty using 2020 and 2030 US Census racial/ethnic categories and 2) determine whether the odds of cognitive difficulty differs with and without a MENA checkbox. We used 2018-2022 American Community Survey data (ages >=65 years; n=3,351,611). We categorized race/ethnicity based on 2020 US Census categories (White, Black, AI/AN, Asian, NH/OPI, Some Other Race, Two or More Races, Hispanic/Latino) then created a separate category for older adults of MENA descent using questions on ancestry and place of birth to align with 2030 categories. Bivariate statistics and multivariable logistic regression models were calculated. Using 2020 categories, the odds of cognitive difficulty were higher among all racial/ethnic groups compared to Whites. Using 2030 categories, the odds of cognitive difficulty were 1.53 times greater (95%CI=1.43-1.62) among MENA compared to Whites. The odds of cognitive difficulty using 2020 and 2030 US Census racial/ethnic categories for other groups were not significantly different. Our results highlight the disparity in cognitive health among MENA and White older adults. Including a separate MENA checkbox on the ACS starting in 2027 is critical to provide baseline data and move forward discussions on health disparities among older adults.
In March 2024, the Office of Management and Budget updated guidelines for measuring race/ethnicity on federal forms in the United States (US). By March 2029, Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) Americans will have a new category. This population was previously included in the definition for the White race. It is unknown how this change will alter health estimates for other racial/ethnic groups, particularly among the aging population that has become increasingly diverse. Using cognitive difficulty as the health outcome of interest, our objectives were to 1) compare the prevalence of cognitive difficulty using 2020 and 2030 US Census racial/ethnic categories and 2) determine whether the odds of cognitive difficulty differs with and without a MENA checkbox. We used 2018-2022 American Community Survey data (ages >=65 years; n=3,351,611). We categorized race/ethnicity based on 2020 US Census categories (White, Black, AI/AN, Asian, NH/OPI, Some Other Race, Two or More Races, Hispanic/Latino) then created a separate category for older adults of MENA descent using questions on ancestry and place of birth to align with 2030 categories. Bivariate statistics and multivariable logistic regression models were calculated. Using 2020 categories, the odds of cognitive difficulty were higher among all racial/ethnic groups compared to Whites. Using 2030 categories, the odds of cognitive difficulty were 1.53 times greater (95%CI=1.43-1.62) among MENA compared to Whites. The odds of cognitive difficulty using 2020 and 2030 US Census racial/ethnic categories for other groups were not significantly different. Our results highlight the disparity in cognitive health among MENA and White older adults. Including a separate MENA checkbox on the ACS starting in 2027 is critical to provide baseline data and move forward discussions on health disparities among older adults.
Funding Sources:
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National Institute on Aging (P30AG066582)
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