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Gender disparity of successful aging in Taiwan

Hui-Chuan Hsu, PhD, Department of Health Care Administration, Taichung Healthcare and Management University, No.500, Lioufeng Road, Wufeng Shiang, Taichung Shien, Taiwan, 886-4-23323456 ext. 1906, gingerhsu@seed.net.tw

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare the difference of gender in the status and changes of successful during the 7-year follow-up. Method: Data were randomly drawn from the 1989, 1993, and 1996 'Survey of Health and Living Status of the Elderly in Taiwan', a national panel survey executed by the Population and Health Survey Center, Bureau of Health Promotion, Department of Health, R.O.C. Samples were all aged 60 or over, totally 2,064 persons at baseline with female 43.4% and male 56.7%. Physical (absence of disease and physical disability), mental (normal cognitive function and no depression), and social (good social support and participation in social activities) dimensions of successful aging indicators were defined, and gender difference of successful aging over 7 years was compared. Results: After 7-year follow-up, no survival difference was found. However, there were significant disparities between the female and male elderly in most of the successful aging indicators. Female elders showed worse status and maintenance in morbidity, physical function, cognitive function, depression, and social activity participation. By defining successful aging of simultaneously meeting the criteria of normal physical function, normal cognitive function and no depression, and with good social support, the totally successful aging rate over 7 years for female was 26.6% and for male was 39.9%. Implications: Cumulative disadvantage and gender-sensitive policy implications are discussed.

Learning Objectives: Participants in this session will be able to

Keywords: Gender, Taiwan Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

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The 132nd Annual Meeting (November 6-10, 2004) of APHA