Gender and health among older people: What is the role of social policies?

Björn Högberg

International Journal of Social Welfare, 2018, vol. 27, issue 3, 236-247

Abstract: The study investigated how social policies moderate the association between gender and health among older people across European countries. The study is the first to take a comprehensive view on the role of social policies in connection with gender inequality in health among older Europeans. The association between gender and poor self‐rated health and limiting long‐standing illness was investigated in a multilevel framework. Cross‐level interaction effects showed that more generous minimum pensions, higher spending on eldercare and a higher degree of eldercare formalisation are associated with relatively better health among women, while more generous standard pensions are associated with relatively better health among men. The conclusion is that policies directed towards older people are not gender neutral; rather they are likely to affect men and women differently. By shaping the distribution of resources as well as of unpaid work, social policies can contribute to either strengthening or weakening the link between gender and health.

Date: 2018
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https://doi.org/10.1111/ijsw.12309

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:wly:injsow:v:27:y:2018:i:3:p:236-247

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