Social factors and the gender difference in mortality

Area of Science:

• Sociology
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• The male/female mortality difference is a significant public health concern.
• Understanding the drivers of this disparity is crucial for targeted interventions.
• Previous research suggests both biological and social factors contribute to gender-based mortality differences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of social factors on the male/female mortality difference in Finland.
• To compare age-adjusted mortality rates between males and females across different social classes and marital statuses.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 44,548 death certificates from 1969-1971.
• Utilized 1970 census data for individuals aged 25-64.
• Compared age-adjusted mortality by gender, social class, and marital status.

Main Results:

• The overall gender mortality difference was 2.8-fold, with violent causes at 5.3-fold and natural causes at 2.3-fold.
• Largest gender disparities were observed in accidental poisonings (18.7-fold) and drownings (12.8-fold) for violent causes, and mental disorders (5.7-fold) and ischemic heart disease (4.5-fold) for natural causes.
• The gender gap was most pronounced in unskilled workers and among the divorced/widowed, and least prominent in married individuals and upper professionals.

Conclusions:

• The significant variation in the gender mortality gap across social classes and marital statuses suggests external factors play a substantial role.
• Findings indicate that social and environmental influences, rather than inherent biological differences, are likely primary drivers of the male/female mortality disparity.
• The observed increase in the gender mortality gap over 80 years further supports the influence of changing societal factors.