engleski

Croatian national health survey-Gender differences in health

This paper analyses gender inequalities in health, focusing on mental health. Health status was measured multidimensionaly using SF-36 questionnaire in which each of the 36 items refers to one of the eight health dimensions: physical functioning, role-physical (limitations in everyday life roles due to physical health), bodily pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, role-emotional (limitations in performing important life roles due to emotional problems) and mental health (absence of anxiety and depression, feeling of happiness). The study was conducted in 2003, as a part of the Croatian National Health Survey. There were 9070 respondents (2890 men and 6180 women) aged 18 and over. As far as gender distinction is concerned, the results showed statistically significant difference in self assessed health. Women consistently considered themselves less healthy ; they scored significantly lower than men on all 8 dimensions. Besides poorer physical health, women reported low mental health and significantly greater limitation in everyday functioning due to emotional problems. Older women showed especially low mental health and limitations in functioning due to emotional and physical problems. With the aging population in Croatia, we can consider them as a population subgroup which is especially under risk of further health problems. Taking in account the fact that women in average have lower educational level and lower income this gender difference in mental health is not just question of biology but important psychosocial problem of our society.

Women; Health; Croatia

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