社会分层与健康不平等的性别差异:基于生命历程的纵向分析

Abstract

Abstract:

This paper is a longitudinal study of the relationship between gender,SES and health among Chinese men and women. The study draws its data from the Chinese Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) over a period of sixteen years and applies the growth curve model analysis in an attempt to address two concerns:Are there any gender differences in health dividend returns due to education and income? Does the SES-health gradient among men and women diverge or converge with aging? We attempt to test two competing theoretical propositions of life course health stratification in a gendered Chinese society:cumulative advantage/disadvantage vs. age-as-leveler. Results show that the SES-health gradient is smaller in China than in the West. Chinese women experience significantly poorer health than Chinese men at all age groups. This disparity can be explained solely by the low health returns received by women from education and income. Although as a whole,the Chinese gain less health reruns from education and income than their Western counterparts,Chinese men benefit more in health returns than Chinese women from their education and income. The study finds that the SES-health gradient for men stays consistent throughout life course while for women it converges with aging,a conclusion that supports the age-as-leveler hypothesis. In addition,we explore the effects of the customary unhealthy lifestyle of Chinese intellectuals as well as the impact of the rapidly changing Chinese society on gender inequality in health.

Key words: gender differences in health, life course perspective, health disparity, cumulative advantage and disadvantage, SES health gradients, age-as-leveler

ZHENG Li, ZENG Xuhui. Gender Differences in the SES and Health Gradient in China: A Life Course Longitudinal Study[J]. Chinese Journal of Sociology, 2016, 36(6): 209-237.

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Gender Differences in the SES and Health Gradient in China: A Life Course Longitudinal Study

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