RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Neighborhood Disadvantage and Telomere Length: Results from the Fragile Families Study JF RSF: The Russell Sage Foundation Journal of the Social Sciences FD Russell Sage Foundation SP 28 OP 42 DO 10.7758/RSF.2018.4.4.02 VO 4 IS 4 A1 Douglas S. Massey A1 Brandon Wagner A1 Louis Donnelly A1 Sara McLanahan A1 Jeanne Brooks-Gunn A1 Irwin Garfinkel A1 Colter Mitchell A1 Daniel A. Notterman YR 2018 UL http://www.rsfjournal.org/content/4/4/28.abstract AB Telomeres are repetitive nucleotide sequences located at the ends of chromosomes that protect genetic material. We use data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study to analyze the relationship between exposure to spatially concentrated disadvantage and telomere length for white and black mothers. We find that neighborhood disadvantage is associated with shorter telomere length for mothers of both races. This finding highlights a potential mechanism through which the unique spatially concentrated disadvantage faced by African Americans contributes to racial health disparities. We conclude that equalizing the health and socioeconomic status of black and white Americans will be very difficult without reducing levels of residential segregation in the United States.