scholarly journals A multi-dimensional perspective on the gender gap in health among older adults in India and China: application of a new ageing measure

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-21
Author(s):  
Arun Balachandran ◽  
K. S. James
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Life Expectancy ◽  
Gender Bias ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Gender Gap ◽  
General Health ◽  
One Dimension ◽  
Multiple Dimensions ◽  
Health Dimension ◽  
India And China

Abstract A continuous rise of female life expectancy above that of males among older adults in India and China may give the impression that the relative gender gap in health in these countries is decreasing. However, given the systemic gender bias against older females in these countries across multiple dimensions of health, a fuller understanding of the gender gap in health calls for a multi-dimensional perspective. We estimate a multi-dimensional old-age threshold (MOAT) that specifies different old-age thresholds for female and male populations which accommodates multiple dimensions related to physical, intellectual and general health. We use the MOAT to evaluate the multi-dimensional gender gap in India and China by differencing the MOAT for females with that of males. Females in both countries have a lower MOAT than their male counterparts, indicating an earlier advent of ‘old age’ for females. The multi-dimensional estimates of the gender gap are also higher than the estimates based on only one dimension of health. A considerable level of variation is also observed in the gender gap across provinces. The study illustrates the need to understand the gender gap in health in India and China from a multi-dimensional perspective and provides an innovative way to quantify such a gap. Province-specific as well as health dimension-specific interventions are vital in reducing the gender gap among older adults in these countries.

scholarly journals Geographic variation in gender gap among older adults in India and China: Application of a new ageing measure

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 870-871
Author(s):  
Arun Balachandran ◽  
Feinian Chen
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Life Expectancy ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Gender Gap ◽  
Functional Health ◽  
Remaining Life ◽  
Multiple Dimensions ◽  
Remaining Life Expectancy ◽  
Almost All ◽  
India And China

Abstract A continuous rise in the life expectancy of females above that of the males among older adults in India and China may give an impression that the gender gap in health is decreasing. However, given the systemic bias against females in these countries across multiple facets, and the diversity across provinces, a fuller understanding of gender gap calls for (a) understanding the gender gap in multiple dimensions of health, and (b) understanding the variations across provinces. We estimate a multi-dimensional old-age threshold (MOAT) across provinces in India and China, that specifies different old-age thresholds for female and male populations after simultaneously accommodating for multiple dimensions related to their health. These aspects of health include remaining life expectancy, intellectual and functional health. We estimate the gender gap across provinces in these countries by differencing the MOAT of males against that of females. In addition, we also illustrate the gender gap across individual dimensions of health. Our results show that females in almost all the provinces of India and China have a lower MOAT than their male counterparts, showing an earlier advent of ‘old-age’ among females compared to males. The estimates based on remaining life expectancy shows gender gap in favor of females, but the estimates of multi-dimensional gender gap are higher and biased against females. A huge variation is seen across provinces, with Karnataka and Hubei showing lower levels of gender gap and Rajasthan and Yunnan showing higher gender gaps in India in China respectively.

Intergenerational support among widowed older adults in China

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhenmei Zhang ◽  
I-Fen Lin
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Intergenerational Support ◽  
Old Age Support ◽  
Old Adults ◽  
Number Of Children ◽  
Healthy Longevity ◽  
Multiple Dimensions ◽  
Parents With Disabilities

With the rapid aging of the Chinese population, growing attention has been given to old-age support. Widowed older adults constitute a particularly vulnerable population because the loss of a spouse can lead to financial hardships and emotional distress. We used data from the 2002 Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey to examine multiple dimensions of old-age support among a nationwide sample of widowed old adults ages 65 and older (N = 10,511). The results show that Chinese widows and widowers rely heavily on their adult children, particularly sons and daughters-in-law, for financial, instrumental, and emotional support. Widowed older adults’ needs and the number of children are the most significant predictors of old-age support. Widowed older adults with multiple marriages have a lower likelihood of receiving financial assistance, sick care, and emotional support from their children compared to their counterparts who have married only once. There appears to be same-gender preference in adult children’s care for their widowed parents with disabilities.

Variation in the Gender Gap in Inactive and Active Life Expectancy by the Definition of Inactivity Among Older Adults

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (7) ◽  
pp. 1279-1298 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rahul Malhotra ◽  
Angelique Chan ◽  
Shweta Ajay ◽  
Stefan Ma ◽  
Yasuhiko Saito
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Life Expectancy ◽  
Gender Gap ◽  
Active Life Expectancy ◽  
Active Life ◽  
Definition Of

scholarly journals A Cross-National Study of the Gender Gap in Health Among Older Adults in India and China: Similarities and Disparities

2017 ◽  
Vol 58 (6) ◽  
pp. 1156-1165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Oksuzyan ◽  
Prashant Kumar Singh ◽  
Kaare Christensen ◽  
Domantas Jasilionis
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Gender Gap ◽  
National Study ◽  
Cross National Study ◽  
India And China ◽  
Cross National

scholarly journals OLD AGE AND THE AGEING INDIVIDUAL: SOCIAL AND LINGUISTIC ASPECTS

2018 ◽  
pp. 9-15
Author(s):  
Snizhana Holyk
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Life Expectancy ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Successful Ageing ◽  
Older Person ◽  
Negative Stereotypes ◽  
Cultural Contexts ◽  
New Meanings ◽  
Attitudes And Perceptions ◽  
Positive Light

The article addresses the issues of representation of old age and the ageing individual in the discourse of sociology. The topicality of such works is quite obvious, since with the increase in life expectancy, many academic studies have focused on old age and its new meanings in societies from different perspectives. This predetermines the need for the interdisciplinary analysis of old age and the ageing self. Also, this study closely examines vocabulary units that are used to designate an older person in English. The material for the analysis has been selected from present-day lexicographical sources. We conducted a qualitative study using the analysis of dictionary definitions and defined attitudes and perceptions of ageing and older adults as encoded in language units. The research highlights that as a socio-cultural product, language is influenced by two views on ageing: successful ageing, ignoring the physical dimensions, and that of decline, creating negative stereotypes of ageing, associated with weakening, diseases and dependence of the person. The paper addresses the above questions from the perspective of linguistic ageism, manifested in vocabulary units describing older people as silly, incompetent, eccentric, with outmoded fixed ideas, attitudes or tastes. Viewed in a positive light, ageing individuals are represented in language as experienced people, with wisdom and respect, when old age means transformation and continued self-fulfilment, rather than decline. The findings of the analysis provide implications or further studies of old age in different discourses that will contribute to a deeper understanding of the notion old age in its social and cultural contexts, as well as the concept OLD AGE in general.

Gender and Regional Differences in the Life Expectancy in Russia

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 106-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. A. Rodionova ◽  
E. D. Kopnova
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Life Expectancy ◽  
Gender Gap ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Living Conditions ◽  
Regional Differentiation ◽  
Russian Regions ◽  
Poor Nutrition

The relevance of the chosen topic is closely related to the development of a system for monitoring the implementation of the May Presidential Decree (2018) to increase life expectancy and improve the quality of life of the population. It has been stated that despite the positive dynamics of life expectancy over the past decade, Russia still has a huge regional differentiation (16,6 years for women, 18,2 years for men in 2016) and an average gender gap - 10,6 years. The choice of factors affecting the gender gap in life expectancy in Russian regions is supported by a conclusion most common in foreign studies that climatic conditions, living conditions, the quality of food and drinking water, alcohol consumption are essential components of public health and life expectancy.The article provides an overview of studies on assessment factors of life expectancy, presents the authors’ approach to identifying gender gaps in life expectancy, living conditions, and lifestyle affecting the indicator of life expectancy. The paper presents the results of a comparative analysis of gender gap in life expectancy in Russia and foreign countries. The paper studies the correlation between living conditions and lifestyle, and life expectancy.Classification of the regions by the life expectancy at birth for men and women is an important component of this study. The authors used Rosstat data for 2016 and the k-means method to select three clusters of Russian regions taking into account gender, living conditions and lifestyle. The paper identifies similar health problems of the regions that are associated with alcohol consumption, poor nutrition and poor quality of drinking water, poor housing and living conditions. The lowest life expectancy rates for men and women are recorded in regions of the 1st cluster (Jewish Autonomous Region, Republic of Tuva, Chukotka Autonomous Area). High mortality rates are a result of external causes. There is a poor quality of drinking water and poor nutrition, excessive alcohol consumption, and inadequate housing conditions.Based on the obtained results were determined possible reserves for reducing the gender and regional differentiation of life expectancy.

scholarly journals Older workers imagining retirement: the collapse of agency, or freedom at last?

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Anne Skevik Grødem ◽  
Ragni Hege Kitterød
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Older Workers ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Social Meaning ◽  
Active Engagement ◽  
Work Patterns ◽  
Ideal Types ◽  
Retirement Decisions ◽  
The Ideal

Abstract Images of what retirement is and ought to be are changing. Older workers are being encouraged to work for longer, at the same time, older adults increasingly voice expectations of a ‘third age’ of active engagement and new life prospects. In this article, we draw on the literature on older workers’ work patterns and retirement transitions (noting push/pull/stay/stuck/jump factors), and on scholarship on the changing social meaning of old age, most importantly the notions of a ‘third’ and ‘fourth’ age. The analysis is based on qualitative interviews with 28 employees in the private sector in Norway, aged between 55 and 66 years. Based on the interviews, we propose three ideal-typical approaches to the work–retirement transition: ‘the logic of deadline’, ‘the logic of negotiation’ and ‘the logic of averting retirement’. The ideal-types are defined by the degree to which informants assume agency in the workplace, their orientation towards work versus retirement and the degree to which they expect to exercise agency in retirement. We emphasise how retirement decisions are informed by notions of the meaning of ageing, while also embedded in relationships with employers and partners.

scholarly journals Self-compassion as predictor of daily physical symptoms and chronic illness across older adulthood

2021 ◽  
pp. 135910532110023
Author(s):  
Heather Herriot ◽  
Carsten Wrosch
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Chronic Illness ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Older Adulthood ◽  
Self Compassion ◽  
Early Old Age

This study examined whether self-compassion could benefit daily physical symptoms and chronic illness in early and advanced old age. The hypotheses were evaluated in a 4-year longitudinal study of 264 older adults. Results showed that self-compassion predicted lower levels of daily physical symptoms across the study period in advanced, but not early, old age ( T-ratio = −1.93, p = 0.05). In addition, self-compassion was associated with fewer increases in chronic illness in advanced, but not early, old age ( T-ratio = − 2.45, p < 0.02). The results of this study suggest that self-compassion may be particularly adaptive towards the end of life.

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