Gender Roles and Physical Function in Older Adults: Cross-Sectional Analysis of the International Mobility in Aging Study (IMIAS)

نویسندگان

  • Tamer Ahmed
  • Afshin Vafaei
  • Mohammad Auais
  • Jack Guralnik
  • Maria Victoria Zunzunegui
چکیده

OBJECTIVES To examine the relationships between physical function and gender-stereotyped traits and whether these relationships are modified by sex or social context. METHODS A total of 1995 community-dwelling older adults from the International Mobility in Aging Study (IMIAS) aged 65 to 74 years were recruited in Natal (Brazil), Manizales (Colombia), Tirana (Albania), Kingston (Ontario, Canada), and Saint-Hyacinthe (Quebec, Canada). We performed a cross-sectional analysis. Study outcomes were mobility disability, defined as having difficulty in walking 400 meters without assistance or climbing a flight of stairs without resting, and low physical performance, defined as a score < 8 on the Short Physical Performance Battery. The 12-item Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) was used to classify participants into four gender roles (Masculine, Feminine, Androgynous, and Undifferentiated) using site-specific medians of femininity and masculinity as cut-off points. Poisson regression models were used to estimate prevalence rate ratios (PRR) of mobility disability and poor physical performance according to gender roles. RESULTS In models adjusted for sex, marital status, education, income, and research site, when comparing to the androgynous role, we found higher prevalence of mobility disability and poor physical performance among participants endorsing the feminine role (PRR = 1.20, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03-1.39 and PRR = 1.37, CI 1.01-1.88, respectively) or the undifferentiated role (PRR = 1.23, 95% CI 1.07-1.42 and PRR = 1.58, CI 1.18-2.12, respectively). Participants classified as masculine did not differ from androgynous participants in prevalence rates of mobility disability or low physical performance. None of the multiplicative interactions by sex and research site were significant. CONCLUSION Feminine and undifferentiated gender roles are independent risk factors for mobility disability and low physical performance in older adults. Longitudinal research is needed to assess the mediation pathways through which gender-stereotyped traits influence functional limitations and to investigate the longitudinal nature of these relationships.

برای دانلود متن کامل این مقاله و بیش از 32 میلیون مقاله دیگر ابتدا ثبت نام کنید

ثبت نام

اگر عضو سایت هستید لطفا وارد حساب کاربری خود شوید

منابع مشابه

ASSESSMENT OF PHYSICAL FUNCTIONING AND ITS CORRELATES IN ADULTS 50 YEARS AND OLDER IN BUKAN, NORTHWEST OF IRAN; A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Background & Aims: Aging is associated with gradual erosive changes in the physiological function of many systems of the body. Ths study aimed to examine the physical functioning and limitation and its related factors in people aged 50 and older in Bukan, 2017. Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional study 1201 elderly people aged 50 years and up were recruited from health recentres in Bu...

متن کامل

Experiences of violence across life course and its effects on mobility among participants in the International Mobility in Aging Study

BACKGROUND Life course exposure to violence may lead to disability in old age. We examine associations and pathways between life course violence and mobility disability in older participants of the International Mobility in Aging Study (IMIAS). METHODS A cross-sectional study using IMIAS 2012 baseline. Men and women aged 65-74 years were recruited at 5 cities (n=1995): Kingston and Saint-Hyac...

متن کامل

Depression, Sex and Gender Roles in Older Adult Populations: The International Mobility in Aging Study (IMIAS)

OBJECTIVES To assess the associations between gender roles and depression in older men and women and whether gender roles are independent risk factors for depression. METHODS International cross-sectional study of adults between 65 and 74 years old (n = 1,967). Depression was defined by a score of 16 or over in the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). A validated 12-item...

متن کامل

بررسی عملکرد سیستم‌های دهلیزی حسی و عمقی و بینایی در کنترل پوسچر مردان سالمند

Objectives: Social participation is an important aspect of health in ageing. It is also a part of life and a&nbsp;key element in function that improves physical and psychological health in the elderly. Using assistive&nbsp;mobility devices may influence social participation in this population. Current study aimed to compare&nbsp;social participation in older adults who use assistive mobility de...

متن کامل

Analysis of Gender Differences in Time Use Among Iranian Older Adults

Objectives Time use patterns affect humans’ health and quality of life. Different social contexts such as gender roles impact on time use patterns in each society. The purpose of this article is to examine gender differences in time use patterns of Iranian older adults. Methods & Materials The method of this study is the secondary analysis of the Iranian time use national survey data. A multis...

متن کامل

ذخیره در منابع من


  با ذخیره ی این منبع در منابع من، دسترسی به آن را برای استفاده های بعدی آسان تر کنید

برای دانلود متن کامل این مقاله و بیش از 32 میلیون مقاله دیگر ابتدا ثبت نام کنید

ثبت نام

اگر عضو سایت هستید لطفا وارد حساب کاربری خود شوید

عنوان ژورنال:

دوره 11  شماره 

صفحات  -

تاریخ انتشار 2016