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Volume :44 Issue : 1 2016
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Health Variations by Gender and Sociological Characteristics Among Elderly Kuwaitis
Auther : Yaqoub AL-Kandari Douglas Crews
Research examined whether there are differences in selected sociocultural and social support measures and health assessments among elderly men and women. A sample of 1,427 elderly Kuwaiti respondents, aged 60 years and over, (472 men and 955 women) participated in a 20__ survey. Our survey instrument included questions from scales designed to obtain sociocultural, social support, health, and demographic information. Age, sex, social status, income, level of education, number of children, number of children living in the same household were self-reported during household interviews. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure was measured and a sample of blood obtained from each participant. Using the Statistical Package of Social Sciences, men and women differ significantly for years of education, socioeconomic status, number of children, number of children living in the elder's household, and the frequency and strength of contact with relatives. Of 60 somatic symptoms, significant sex differences were observed for only 10. Only 4 somatic symptoms differed significantly between young-old men and women participants (ages 60-69). Among 70-79 year olds, men and women were significantly different for 7 items. Among the oldest-old elders, 12 significant somatic differences were observed. Regardless of sex, spouses generally are important sources of social support. One's sex is significantly predictive of differences in associated self-reported somatic symptoms and health over the last year. Women report more somatic symptoms, but also greater satisfaction with their health than do elderly men. One's sex also is significantly related to sociocultural measures, including income and education levels. Given historical differences in men's and women's activities, the Kuwaiti population provides a model laboratory for exploring sex differences in how health varies across social and cultural measures and social support among Arab elders.
Keywords: Elderly in Kuwait, Variation among elderly, Health.