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A Sociological Assessment of Centenarians from Central Illinois Cemeteries, 1825–1985

A Sociological Assessment of Centenarians from Central Illinois Cemeteries, 1825–1985 Centenarians, the fastest growing age group in the United States, recently have become the focus of medical and social research. However, historically, little is known of centenarians beyond anecdotal narrative. This research identifies 60 centenarians from 55,914 burials between 1825 and 1985 in a single Midwest county. These centenarians are compared to a sample of burials from the same county and time span, and to patterns of current centenarians. The prevalence of centenarians, historically, compares more favorably with current prevalence rates than anticipated, suggesting regional concentrations of the oldest old. Racial crossover was found, as anticipated, but historically, centenarians were not as disproportionately female as is the contemporary centenarian population. Seasonal death patterns of centenarians are similar to, but more exaggerated than, the seasonal patterns of younger elderly. Finally, findings suggest that centenarians came from larger families than noncentenarians, and that these families experienced greater longevity. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Journal of Aging and Identity Springer Journals

A Sociological Assessment of Centenarians from Central Illinois Cemeteries, 1825–1985

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Publisher
Springer Journals
Copyright
Copyright © 2002 by Human Sciences Press, Inc.
Subject
Social Sciences; Sociology, general
ISSN
1087-3732
eISSN
1573-3491
DOI
10.1023/A:1020713605095
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Centenarians, the fastest growing age group in the United States, recently have become the focus of medical and social research. However, historically, little is known of centenarians beyond anecdotal narrative. This research identifies 60 centenarians from 55,914 burials between 1825 and 1985 in a single Midwest county. These centenarians are compared to a sample of burials from the same county and time span, and to patterns of current centenarians. The prevalence of centenarians, historically, compares more favorably with current prevalence rates than anticipated, suggesting regional concentrations of the oldest old. Racial crossover was found, as anticipated, but historically, centenarians were not as disproportionately female as is the contemporary centenarian population. Seasonal death patterns of centenarians are similar to, but more exaggerated than, the seasonal patterns of younger elderly. Finally, findings suggest that centenarians came from larger families than noncentenarians, and that these families experienced greater longevity.

Journal

Journal of Aging and Identity – Springer Journals

Published: Oct 13, 2004

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