Cohort Trends in the Gender Distribution of Household Tasks in the United States and the Implications for Understanding Disability

TitleCohort Trends in the Gender Distribution of Household Tasks in the United States and the Implications for Understanding Disability
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2019
AuthorsSheehan, CM, Domingue, BW, Crimmins, EM
JournalJournal of Aging and Health
ISSN Number0898-2643
KeywordsCohort Studies, Disabilities, Gender Differences, Household, Women and Minorities
Abstract

Objectives: Measures of disability depend on health and social roles in a given environment. Yet, social roles can change over time as they have by gender. We document how engagement in Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) is shifting by gender and birth cohort among older adults, and the challenges these shifts can create for population-level estimates of disability. Method: We used the Health and Retirement Study (N = 25,047) and multinomial logistic regression models with an interaction term between gender and birth cohort to predict limitation and nonperformance relative to no difficulty conducting IADLs. Results: Nonperformance of IADLs have significantly decreased among younger cohorts. Women in younger cohorts were more likely to use a map, whereas men in younger cohorts were more likely to prepare meals and shop. Discussion: Failing to account for gender and cohort changes in IADL, performance may lead to systematic bias in estimates of population-level disability.

DOI10.1177/0898264318793469
Short TitleJ Aging Health
Citation Key9798
PubMed ID30141717
PubMed Central IDPMC6774921
Grant ListT32 AG000037 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States