Gender differences in the causal factors affecting the health status of older adults

Objective: To examine gender differences in social processes affecting the health status of older persons. Methods: Randomly selected sample of 794 white urban persons age 55 and older were surveyed in their homes. Results: A path analysis performed separately for males and females found that older males' number of illnesses were more affected by living alone than older females. Income had the greatest total effect for older women and living alone for older men. Conclusions: These subtle gender differences are undetected in the standard regression model and need to be considered in the health care plan.