The Importance of Region of Birth and Early Life vs. Current Residence to Health and Mortality

Scott M. Lynch, Princeton University
J. Scott Brown, Miami University
Miles G. Taylor, Florida State University

Survey respondents’ region of residence is commonly used as a control in demographic research on health. An implicit rationale for including region is that regional cultures vary, and culture may affect health. For example, dietary differences between Southerners and others may produce rates of obesity and subsequent health complications that differ compared to those of other regions. Under this argument, an individual’s region of birth and childhood should have greater later-life health implications than his/her current region, because early socialization is strong and enduring. Using basic regression methods and Bayesian multi-state lifetable methods applied to HRS data from 1998-2008, we investigate regional differences in healthy life expectancy at age 50, where region of residence is measured in three ways: (1) current region, (2) birth region, and (3) region during adolescence. We find that the latter measure of region is most important in predicting and differentiating health across regions. Implications are discussed.