GENDER DIFFERENCES IN THE CAUSAL FACTORS AFFECTING THE HEALTH-STATUS OF OLDER ADULTS

Objective: To examine gender differences in social processes affecting the health status of older persons. Methods: Randomly selected sample of 794 white urban persons age 55 and older were surveyed in their ho mes. Results: A path analysis performed separately for males and femal es found that older males' number of illnesses were more affected by l iving alone than older females. Income had the greatest total effect f or older women and living alone for older men. Conclusions: These subt le gender differences are undetected in the standard regression model and need to be considered in the health care plan.