Abstract
Background Given the known female disadvantage in physical and mental health, this study aims to investigate sex differences in self-rated health (SRH) among older adults, considering the longitudinal course by age, birth cohort and educational level. Methods Data from birth cohort 1911-1937 with baseline age 55-81 years (n=3107) and birth cohort 1938-1947 with baseline age 55-65 years (n=1002) from the Longitudinal Ageing Study Amsterdam (LASA) were used. Mixed models analyses were used to examine sex differences in SRH (RAND General Health Perception Questionnaire (RAND-GHPQ, range 0-16) over the age course, testing for effect modification by birth cohort and educational level (low, middle, high). Results For both sexes, a decline in SRH was seen with increasing age. Over the age course, there was no significant sex difference in SRH within the older (1911-1937) birth cohort (0.13 lower score on SRH for women compared to men, 95% CI -0.35 - 0.09) and only a small sex difference in the more recent (1938-1947) birth cohort (0.35 lower score on SRH for women compared to men (95% CI -0.69 - - 0.02), p=0.04). There was no significant cohort difference in the size of the sex difference (p=0.279). Those with a higher level of education reported a higher SRH, but between educational levels there was no significant difference in the size of the sex difference in SRH. Discussion In this study, no relevant sex difference in SRH over the age course was observed among older adults. Future research on SRH trajectories by sex during ageing should take health-related, cognitive, psychosocial and behavioral factors into account.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 962-969 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Gerontology |
Volume | 70 |
Issue number | 9 |
Early online date | 17 Jun 2024 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Sept 2024 |
Bibliographical note
The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.Funding
This work was supported by the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMw) [849200005].
Funders | Funder number |
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ZonMw | 849200005 |
ZonMw |