Title | Gender differences in functional status in middle and older age: are there any age variations? |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2008 |
Authors | Liang, J, Bennett, JM, Shaw, BA, Quiñones, AR, Ye, W, Xu, X, Ofstedal, MBeth |
Journal | J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci |
Volume | 63 |
Issue | 5 |
Pagination | S282-92 |
Date Published | 2008 Sep |
ISSN Number | 1079-5014 |
Call Number | newpubs20081205_Liang_etal.pdf |
Keywords | Activities of Daily Living, Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Disabled Persons, Female, Health Status, Humans, Linear Models, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Middle Aged, Sex Factors, United States |
Abstract | OBJECTIVES: The present study examines gender differences in changes in functional status after age 50 and how such differences vary across different age groups. METHODS: Data came from the Health and Retirement Study, involving up to six repeated observations of a national sample of Americans older than 50 years of age between 1995 and 2006. We employed hierarchical linear models with time-varying covariates in depicting temporal variations in functional status between men and women. RESULTS: As a quadratic function, the worsening of functional status was more accelerated in terms of the intercept and rate of change among women and those in older age groups. In addition, gender differences in the level of functional impairment were more substantial in older persons than in younger individuals, although differences in the rate of change between men and women remained constant across age groups. DISCUSSION: A life course perspective can lead to new insights regarding gender variations in health within the context of intrapersonal and interpersonal differences. Smaller gender differences in the level of functional impairment in the younger groups may reflect improvement of women's socioeconomic status, greater rate of increase in chronic diseases among men, and less debilitating effects of diseases. |
DOI | 10.1093/geronb/63.5.s282 |
User Guide Notes | |
Endnote Keywords | GENDER-DIFFERENCES/Health Physical |
Endnote ID | 19500 |
Alternate Journal | J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci |
Citation Key | 7252 |
PubMed ID | 18818448 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC3454348 |
Grant List | U01 AG009740 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States R01 AG028116 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States P30 AG024824 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States P60 AG008808 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States R01 AG015124 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States R01 AG028116-03 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States P60-AG08808 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States R01 AG015124-09 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States P30 AG024824-068513 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States R01-AG028116 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States R01-AG154124 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States |