Centre for Policy on Ageing



Gender and health — a study of older unlike-sex twins
Author(s)	Carol H Gold, Bo Malmberg, Gerald E McClearn
Journal title	Journals of Gerontology: Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, vol 57B, no 3, May 2002
Pages	pp S168-S176
Keywords	Older men ; Older women ; Twins ; Health [elderly] ; Sweden.
Annotation	Gender differences in health-related measures were analysed in a population-based sample of 605 twin pairs from all living pairs of unlike-sex twins born between 1906 and 1925 identified through the Swedish Twin Registry. Women had more total health conditions, not life-threatening conditions, somewhat life-threatening cardiovascular conditions, and physical and psychological symptoms. Men had more very life-threatening health conditions and cardiovascular conditions. No gender differences were found in somewhat life-threatening health conditions, total cardiovascular conditions, or self-rated health. Thus, important gender differences and similarities in health were found using an unlike-sex twin design that reduces variabilities due to background circumstances. The design also minimised problems caused by gender differences in survival. (RH).
Accession Number	CPA-020617214 A
Classmark	BC: BD: SVR: CC: 76P
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...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.