Incarceration's lingering health effects on Black men: impacts persist into retirement

Shervin Assari; Shervin Assari

doi:10.3934/publichealth.2024026

AIMS Public Health

2024, Volume 11, Issue 2: 526-542. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2024026

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Research article Special Issues

Incarceration's lingering health effects on Black men: impacts persist into retirement

Shervin Assari ^,

Departments of Urban Public Health, Internal Medicine, and Family Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA, USA

Received: 31 January 2024 Revised: 27 March 2024 Accepted: 07 April 2024 Published: 16 April 2024

Background
The unique challenges Black men face within the criminal justice system underscore structural and systemic factors driving widespread inequalities. The long-term effects of these challenges on economic, health, and social outcomes as individuals transition to retirement remain poorly understood, highlighting a critical gap in our knowledge of life trajectories long after justice system involvement.

Objectives
This study investigated the enduring health impacts of incarceration on Black men, particularly focusing on the transition into retirement. It aimed to explore the influence of race and gender on experiences of incarceration before age 50, and how such experiences affected self-rated health during the retirement transition.

Methods
Utilizing data from the Health and Retirement Study, which followed individuals aged 50–59 for up to thirty years, this research examined the interplay of race, gender, incarceration history, and self-rated health during the retirement transition. Logistic regression and path modeling were employed for data analysis.

Results
Logistic regression results indicated that being Black, male, and having lower educational attainment significantly increased the likelihood of experiencing incarceration before the age of 50 (p < 0.05). This suggests that Black men with lower levels of education are at the greatest risk of incarceration. The path model revealed a correlation between incarceration experiences before age 50 and poorer self-rated health at the time of retirement.

Conclusion
The findings highlighted the disproportionately high risk of incarceration among Black men, especially those with lower educational attainment, and its persistent negative impacts on health decades later, including during the transition into retirement. Addressing structural racism and the mass incarceration of Black men is crucial for achieving racial health equity as individuals retire.
- incarceration,
- retirement,
- social determinants,
- ethnic groups,
- health equity
Citation: Shervin Assari. Incarceration's lingering health effects on Black men: impacts persist into retirement[J]. AIMS Public Health, 2024, 11(2): 526-542. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2024026

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Abstract

Background

The unique challenges Black men face within the criminal justice system underscore structural and systemic factors driving widespread inequalities. The long-term effects of these challenges on economic, health, and social outcomes as individuals transition to retirement remain poorly understood, highlighting a critical gap in our knowledge of life trajectories long after justice system involvement.

Objectives

This study investigated the enduring health impacts of incarceration on Black men, particularly focusing on the transition into retirement. It aimed to explore the influence of race and gender on experiences of incarceration before age 50, and how such experiences affected self-rated health during the retirement transition.

Methods

Utilizing data from the Health and Retirement Study, which followed individuals aged 50–59 for up to thirty years, this research examined the interplay of race, gender, incarceration history, and self-rated health during the retirement transition. Logistic regression and path modeling were employed for data analysis.

Results

Logistic regression results indicated that being Black, male, and having lower educational attainment significantly increased the likelihood of experiencing incarceration before the age of 50 (p < 0.05). This suggests that Black men with lower levels of education are at the greatest risk of incarceration. The path model revealed a correlation between incarceration experiences before age 50 and poorer self-rated health at the time of retirement.

Conclusion

The findings highlighted the disproportionately high risk of incarceration among Black men, especially those with lower educational attainment, and its persistent negative impacts on health decades later, including during the transition into retirement. Addressing structural racism and the mass incarceration of Black men is crucial for achieving racial health equity as individuals retire.

Funding

The research reported herein was performed pursuant to a grant from the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) funded as part of the Retirement and Disability Research Consortium through the Michigan Retirement and Disability Research Center Award RDR23000008. The opinions and conclusions expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not represent the opinions or policy of SSA or any agency of the Federal Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of the contents of this report. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof.

Conflict of interest

Shervin Assari is an editorial board member for AIMS Public Health and was not involved in the editorial review or the decision to publish this article. The author declares that there are no competing interests.

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