Self-perceived health status, gender, and work status

ABSTRACT

This study analyzes the relationship between gender and self-perceived health status in Spanish retirees and housewives from a sample of 1,106 community-dwelling older adults. A multivariate linear regression model was used in which self-perceived health status was measured by the EQ-5D visual analogue scale and gender according to work status (retired men and women and housewives). Retired males reported a significantly better health status than housewives. Self-perceived health status was closely associated with physical, mental, and functional health and leisure activities. Finally, being a woman with complete dedication to domestic work is associated with a worse state of self-perceived health.

KEYWORDS:

• Gender
• leisure activities
• retirement
• self-perceived health status
• unpaid domestic work

Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (National R&D&I Plan [grant numbers ref. SEJ2006-15122-C02-00]). Dr. Forjaz had full access to all the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.

Members of the Spanish Research Group on Quality of Life and Ageing is made up as follows: (1) at the Spanish National Research Council by Gloria Fernández-Mayoralas, Fermina Rojo-Pérez, Karim Ahmed-Mohamed and Raul Lardies-Bosque; and (2) at the Carlos III Institute of Health by María João Forjaz, Pablo Martínez-Martín, María-Eugenia Prieto-Flores, Belén Frades-Payo, Carmen Rodríguez-Blázquez, Concepción Delgado-Sanz, and Alba Ayala.