The relationship between gender roles and self-rated health: A perspective from an international study

Objectives: To examine the relationship between gender roles and self-rated health in older men and women from different contexts. Methods: 2002 community-dwelling older adults from the International Mobility in Aging Study were recruited from 5 research sites. Gender role was measured with the 12-item Bem Sex Role Inventory, which categorized study participants into four gender roles: Masculine, Feminine, Androgynous, and Undifferentiated. Self-rated health was collapsed into a dichotomous variable (Very Good/Good and Fair/Poor/Very Poor). Prevalence risk ratios (PRR) of self-rated health relative to gender roles were estimated with Poisson regression models adjusted for all relevant confounders. Results: After complete adjustment, feminine (PRR 1.22 (95 % CI 1.01-1.49)) and undifferentiated (PRR 1.25 (95 % CI 1.05-1.50)) gender roles were associated with poorer relative self-rated health. Discussion: Gender roles confer independent risks and benefits for self-rated health in older adults.