Predictors of the gender gap in life expectancy across 54 nations

Abstract

We studied the gender gap in life expectancy (GGLE), which currently favours women on average by 5 years. Individual data from 54 societies were extracted from the 1999-2004 wave of the World Values Survey. The GGLE was not predicted by the socio-economic factors of gross domestic product (GDP) or Gini coefficient, but was increased by national level of alcohol consumption, and decreased by gender differences in national levels of life satisfaction. Different national-level phenomena appear to be responsible for male and female contributions to the GGLE. National levels of male longevity were responsive to GDP, Gini coefficient, social engagement, tobacco use and life satisfaction, whereas female longevity rates were responsive only to GDP and alcohol consumption, underscoring the greater sensitivity of male longevity to contextual features of the nations where they live.

Cross‐cultural differences in the relationship between conformity to masculine norms and health behaviour among men in Hong Kong

“…Women have a longer life expectancy, with men around the globe likely to live an average of 5 years less than women (Rochelle, Yeung, Bond, & Li, 2015). Women have a longer life expectancy, with men around the globe likely to live an average of 5 years less than women (Rochelle, Yeung, Bond, & Li, 2015).…”

“…It's a difficult age to be man: research consistently shows that despite increases in longevity, and advances in medical care around the world in recent decades, the gender gap in life expectancy continues to widen. Women have a longer life expectancy, with men around the globe likely to live an average of 5 years less than women (Rochelle, Yeung, Bond, & Li, 2015). Added to this, men experience significantly worse physical and mental health outcomes when compared to women (Courtenay, 2011;Men's Minds Matters, 2013): despite women's tendency towards higher rates of illness, these illnesses are rarely life-threatening; men, on the other hand, not only experience higher mortality for most leading causes of death (Oksuzyan, Brønnum-Hansen, & Jeune, 2010;Payne, Swami, & Stanistreet, 2008), but are also at greater risk of developing nearly all major diseases (White & Cash, 2004).…”

The green autofluorescence intensity and asymmetry of older men is significantly higher than those of older women in their fingernails and certain regions of skin

“…Because there are studies suggesting that compared with older men, older women have longer life expectancy (9,15) and lower levels of oxidative stress (2,(6)(7)(8)16) and inflammation (1), we proposed our hypothesis that the green AF intensity of older men is significantly higher than that of older men in their fingernails and certain regions of skin. In current study, we determined the green AF intensity and asymmetry of the fingernails and certain regions of the skin of both elderly men and women.…”

Sex‐dependent disparities in critical illness: methodological implications for critical care research

“…Although the gender gap in life expectancy, favouring women by 5 years on average (Rochelle et al , ), is still unexplained, women exhibit specific health‐related susceptibilities (e.g. autoimmune, mood and anxiety disorders) compared to men (Verma et al , ).…”