Science / Medicine : A Weekly Roundup of News, Features and Commentary : Why Asians Live Longer
On average, Asian women live 7 years long than white women and 20 years longer than black men--disparities that may be linked to the role of extended families, says a San Francisco State researcher.
Robert Schmidt, a professor of clinical science who has studied aging in California and Hawaii, noted that Hawaiians have the longest average life span of residents of any state and suggested that it is because the extended family is a tradition in Hawaii.
He said Asian women in California can expect to live an average of 85.8 years and Asian men 79.2 years. The figure for Asian men is 7 years longer than Latino men, 8 years longer than white men and 14 years longer than black men, Schmidt said.
He said another key to long life for Asians is that they have a low accident rate and are less likely than other ethnic groups to die in car accidents, accidental shootings or other fatal mishaps.
