Gender inequality in health among elderly people in a combined framework of socioeconomic position, family characteristics and social support

Abstract

This study analyses gender inequalities in health among elderly people in Catalonia (Spain) by adopting a conceptual framework that globally considers three dimensions of health determinants : socio-economic position, family characteristics and social support. Data came from the 2006 Catalonian Health Survey. For the purposes of this study a sub-sample of people aged 65-85 years with no paid job was selected (1,113 men and 1,484 women). The health outcomes analysed were self-perceived health status, poor mental health status and long-standing limiting illness. Multiple logistic regression models separated by sex were fitted and a hierarchical model was fitted in three steps. Health status among elderly women was poorer than among the men for the three outcomes analysed. Whereas living with disabled people was positively related to the three health outcomes and confidant social support was negatively associated with all of them in both sexes, there were gender differences in other social determinants of health. Our results emphasise the importance of using an integrated approach for the analysis of health inequalities among elderly people, simultaneously considering socio-economic position, family characteristics and social support, as well as different health indicators, in order fully to understand the social determinants of the health status of older men and women.

Gender inequality in self-reported health among the elderly in contemporary welfare countries: A cross-country analysis of time use activities, socioeconomic positions and family characteristics

“…Nonetheless, previous research also showed a strong negative association between age and health among the elderly [ 56 ]. In line with previous studies [ 19 , 21 ], educational attainment was significantly associated with health status in both elderly men and women in all countries; the prevalence of poor health increased with decreasing educational level.…”

Gender inequality in self-reported health among the elderly in contemporary welfare countries: A cross-country analysis of time use activities, socioeconomic positions and family characteristics

“…Nonetheless, previous research also showed a strong negative association between age and health among the elderly [ 56 ]. In line with previous studies [ 19 , 21 ], educational attainment was significantly associated with health status in both elderly men and women in all countries; the prevalence of poor health increased with decreasing educational level.…”

Psychological Health of Older Women in Hong Kong: Do Demographic Characteristics Make a Difference?

“…Educated women (albeit primary education) have a different psychological health status, compared with older women who receive no schooling. The present findings are consistent with a study on the elderly, which used Limiting Long-standing Illness (LLI) as a health indicator (8). This study was conducted in Spain and the researchers reported the following: "Low educational attainment was not significantly associated with LLI among men, whilst a positive relationship with a gradient was found for women."…”

Disability during military service in Israel: raising awareness of gender differences

“……”

Gender inequality in self-reported health among the elderly in contemporary welfare countries: A cross-country analysis of time use activities, socioeconomic positions and family characteristics

“…Nonetheless, previous research also showed a strong negative association between age and health among the elderly [ 56 ]. In line with previous studies [ 19 , 21 ], educational attainment was significantly associated with health status in both elderly men and women in all countries; the prevalence of poor health increased with decreasing educational level.…”

Psychological Health of Older Women in Hong Kong: Do Demographic Characteristics Make a Difference?

“…Educated women (albeit primary education) have a different psychological health status, compared with older women who receive no schooling. The present findings are consistent with a study on the elderly, which used Limiting Long-standing Illness (LLI) as a health indicator (8). This study was conducted in Spain and the researchers reported the following: "Low educational attainment was not significantly associated with LLI among men, whilst a positive relationship with a gradient was found for women."…”

Disability during military service in Israel: raising awareness of gender differences

“……”

Gender inequality in self-reported health among the elderly in contemporary welfare countries: A cross-country analysis of time use activities, socioeconomic positions and family characteristics

“…Nonetheless, previous research also showed a strong negative association between age and health among the elderly [ 56 ]. In line with previous studies [ 19 , 21 ], educational attainment was significantly associated with health status in both elderly men and women in all countries; the prevalence of poor health increased with decreasing educational level.…”

Psychological Health of Older Women in Hong Kong: Do Demographic Characteristics Make a Difference?

“…Educated women (albeit primary education) have a different psychological health status, compared with older women who receive no schooling. The present findings are consistent with a study on the elderly, which used Limiting Long-standing Illness (LLI) as a health indicator (8). This study was conducted in Spain and the researchers reported the following: "Low educational attainment was not significantly associated with LLI among men, whilst a positive relationship with a gradient was found for women."…”

Disability during military service in Israel: raising awareness of gender differences

“……”