Despite poverty and low health insurance rates, they live longer
Hispanics in the U.S. generally outlive African-Americans and non-Hispanic whites despite their high rates of poverty and comparatively low rates of health insurance, a phenomenon scientists call the “Hispanic paradox.” According to a government report released last week, as of 2006, life expectancy for Hispanics at birth was 80.6 years, 2.5 years more than for non-Hispanic whites, and almost 8 years longer than life expectancy for blacks. Longer life expectancy might have to do with cultural factors like close social networks and low rates of smoking, researchers said.