Citation

Kiely KM, Brady B, Byles J. Maturitas 2019; 129: 76-84.

Affiliation

Priority Research Centre for Generational Health and Ageing, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.maturitas.2019.09.004

PMID

31547918

Abstract

This article presents a broad narrative review of the epidemiological evidence on how and why the mental health of older adults varies by gender. We draw upon international research literatures spanning gerontology and population mental health, as well as major reports from global health agencies. Compared with older men, older women are more likely to experience common mental disorders such as depression and anxiety, although the gender gap is smaller than it is at younger ages. In contrast, the mortality-related impacts of poor mental health, including suicide, are more severe for older men. These gendered patterns vary by country and other social contexts. Factors proposed to account for these findings include cultural and social norms, differentiation of gender roles, disadvantage and (dis)empowerment across the life course, and the coping styles of older men. However, little research has explicitly tested these explanations. Research to date has overwhelmingly focused on identifying differences in the mental health of older men and women. Notably, most studies have been restricted to binary comparisons, lacking the data to disentangle sex and gender dynamics, and few studies have examined the mental health of minority gendered adults in later life. Finally, there remains a need for high-quality population-based research into the mental health of those aged over 80 that includes coverage of people living in residential aged care settings.

Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Aging; Common mental disorders; Depression; Gender; Older adults; Sex; Suicide