@article {8807, title = {Educational and Gender Differences in Health Behavior Changes After a Gateway Diagnosis.}, journal = {J Aging Health}, volume = {30}, year = {2018}, month = {2018 03}, pages = {342-364}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: Hypertension represents a gateway diagnosis to more serious health problems that occur as people age. We examine educational differences in three health behavior changes people often make after receiving this diagnosis in middle or older age, and test whether these educational differences depend on (a) the complexity of the health behavior change and (b) gender.

METHOD: We use data from the Health and Retirement Study and conduct logistic regression analysis to examine the likelihood of modifying health behaviors post diagnosis.

RESULTS: We find educational differences in three behavior changes-antihypertensive medication use, smoking cessation, and physical activity initiation-after a hypertension diagnosis. These educational differences in health behaviors were stronger among women compared with men.

DISCUSSION: Upon receiving a hypertension diagnosis, education is a more important predictor of behavior changes for women compared with men, which may help explain gender differences in the socioeconomic gradient in health in the United States.

}, keywords = {Aged, Attitude to Health, Educational Status, Exercise, Female, Health Behavior, Humans, Hypertension, Male, Middle Aged, Retirement, Sex Factors, Smoking cessation, United States}, issn = {1552-6887}, doi = {10.1177/0898264316678756}, url = {http://jah.sagepub.com/cgi/doi/10.1177/0898264316678756}, author = {Elaine M Hernandez and Rachel Margolis and Robert A Hummer} } @article {7719, title = {The significance of education for mortality compression in the United States.}, journal = {Demography}, volume = {49}, year = {2012}, month = {2012 Aug}, pages = {819-40}, publisher = {49}, abstract = {

Recent studies of old-age mortality trends assess whether longevity improvements over time are linked to increasing compression of mortality at advanced ages. The historical backdrop of these studies is the long-term improvement in a population{\textquoteright}s socioeconomic resources that fueled longevity gains. We extend this line of inquiry by examining whether socioeconomic differences in longevity within a population are accompanied by old-age mortality compression. Specifically, we document educational differences in longevity and mortality compression for older men and women in the United States. Drawing on the fundamental cause of disease framework, we hypothesize that both longevity and compression increase with higher levels of education and that women with the highest levels of education will exhibit the greatest degree of longevity and compression. Results based on the Health and Retirement Study and the National Health Interview Survey Linked Mortality File confirm a strong educational gradient in both longevity and mortality compression. We also find that mortality is more compressed within educational groups among women than men. The results suggest that educational attainment in the United States maximizes life chances by delaying the biological aging process.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Educational Status, Female, Health Status Disparities, Humans, Life Expectancy, Male, Middle Aged, Mortality, Mortality, Premature, Sex Distribution, Socioeconomic factors, United States}, issn = {0070-3370}, doi = {10.1007/s13524-012-0104-1}, url = {http://proquest.umi.com.proxy.lib.umich.edu/pqdweb?did=2712630621andFmt=7andclientId=17822andRQT=309andVName=PQD}, author = {Dustin C. Brown and Mark D Hayward and Jennifer Karas Montez and Robert A Hummer and Chi-Tsun Chiu and Mira M Hidajat} }