Self-perceived health status, gender, and work status

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Sociology
• Public Health

Background:

• Self-perceived health is a key indicator of overall well-being in older adults.
• Gender roles and work status can significantly influence health outcomes in aging populations.
• Understanding these factors is crucial for developing targeted health interventions for elderly individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the relationship between gender and self-perceived health status among Spanish retirees and housewives.
• To identify specific demographic and lifestyle factors associated with health status in this population.

Main Methods:

• A multivariate linear regression model was employed.
• Data were collected from 1,106 community-dwelling older adults in Spain.
• Self-perceived health was measured using the EQ-5D visual analogue scale, with gender categorized by work status (retired men, retired women, housewives).

Main Results:

• Retired males reported significantly better self-perceived health compared to housewives.
• Self-perceived health status was strongly correlated with physical, mental, and functional health, as well as engagement in leisure activities.
• Women primarily engaged in domestic work reported a worse state of self-perceived health.

Conclusions:

• Gender and work status are significant determinants of self-perceived health in older Spanish adults.
• The findings suggest that full-time domestic work may negatively impact women's health perception.
• Further research should explore interventions to mitigate these disparities and improve health outcomes for vulnerable groups of older women.