Shervin Assari|Neda Hani
Household Income and Children’s Unmet Dental Care Need; Blacks’ Diminished Return
University of California, Los Angeles|University of Michigan–Ann Arbor|MCPHS University
background minorities diminished return theory defined relative disadvantage minority populations compared whites regarding health gains follow socioeconomic status ses test whether minorities diminished return theory holds unmet dental care needs dcn investigated blackwhite differences effects family income unmet dcn among children methods data national survey childrens health used participants either white black children age 1 18 family incometoneeds ratio independent variable unmet dcn dependent variable covariates included age gender parental educational attainment race focal moderator ran logistic regression data analysis results higher incometoneeds ratio associated lower risk unmet dcn pooled sample found interaction race family incometoneeds ratio unmet dcn suggesting stronger protective effect whites blacks conclusion minorities diminished return also holds effects family incometoneeds ratio unmet dcn relative disadvantage blacks compared whites gaining oral health ses may reflect structural racism systemically hinders black families need additional research specific societal barriers bound blacks oral health gain ses resources income policies programs also help black families leverage ses resources