Dataset Information

The relationship between gender discrimination and wellbeing in middle-aged and older women.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Emerging evidence suggests that perceived gender discrimination negatively impacts mental wellbeing in young women.

Purpose

This study explored whether a similar relationship exists in middle-aged and older women.

Methods

A total of 3081 women (aged ≥52 years) from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing provided data on perceived gender discrimination in 2010/11. Depressive symptoms, loneliness, quality of life and life satisfaction were assessed in 2010/11 and in 2016/17.

Results

Perceived gender discrimination was reported by 282 (9.2%) participants. Cross-sectionally, women who perceived gender discrimination reported more depressive symptoms (β = 0.34, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.57) and had higher loneliness scores (β = 0.14, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.20) than women who did not perceive gender discrimination. They also reported significantly lower quality of life (β = -2.50, 95% CI -3.49 to -1.51) and life satisfaction (β = -1.07, 95% CI -1.81 to -0.33). Prospectively, perceived gender discrimination was associated with greater loneliness scores (β = 0.08, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.14), as well as lower ratings of quality of life (β = -0.98, 95% CI -0.09 to -1.86), and life satisfaction (β = -1.04, 95% CI -0.34 to -1.74), independent of baseline values.

Conclusions

Middle-aged and older women who perceive gender discrimination report poorer mental wellbeing than those who do not perceive discrimination. Further, this type of discrimination may be predictive of declining mental wellbeing over time. These findings highlight the need for interventions to target gender-based discrimination to improve the wellbeing of women at mid- and older age.

SUBMITTER: Hackett RA

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10954130 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

The relationship between gender discrimination and wellbeing in middle-aged and older women.

Hackett Ruth A RA Hunter Myra S MS Jackson Sarah E SE

PloS one 20240320 3

<h4>Background</h4>Emerging evidence suggests that perceived gender discrimination negatively impacts mental wellbeing in young women.<h4>Purpose</h4>This study explored whether a similar relationship exists in middle-aged and older women.<h4>Methods</h4>A total of 3081 women (aged ≥52 years) from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing provided data on perceived gender discrimination in 2010/11. Depressive symptoms, loneliness, quality of life and life satisfaction were assessed in 2010/11 and ...[more]

PMID: 38507365

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Project description:Background and objectivesPerceived discrimination is a risk factor for poor mental health. However, most studies measure discrimination at one time point, which does not account for heterogeneity in the cumulative patterning of exposure to discrimination. To address this gap, we examine the association between discrimination trajectories and depressive symptoms among black middle-aged and older adults.Research design and methodsData were analyzed from a subsample of black Health and Retirement Study respondents (2006-2018, N = 2926, older than 50 years). General discrimination and racial discrimination trajectories were constructed based on the Everyday Discrimination Scale using repeated measures latent profile analyses. We examined the extent to which the association between discrimination trajectories are differentially associated with depressive symptoms (8-item Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale) using negative binomial regression models adjusted for potential confounders. Effect modification by age and gender was tested.ResultsIndividuals in the persistently high (incident rate ratio [IRR]: 1.70; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.49-1.95) and moderate general discrimination trajectories (IRR: 1.19; 95% CI: 1.06-1.33) were more likely to have elevated depressive symptoms in comparison to those in the persistently low trajectory. This relationship was strongest among older adults aged older than 65 years. Respondents in the persistently high racial discrimination trajectory (IRR: 1.50; 95% CI: 1.29-1.73) had a higher risk of elevated depressive symptoms in comparison to respondents in the persistently low trajectory. Sensitivity analyses indicated that there was an independent association between persistently high racial discrimination trajectory class and elevated depressive symptoms, after adjusting for racial discrimination measured at a single time point.Discussion and implicationsCharacterizing longitudinal patterns of perceived discrimination may facilitate the stratification of mental health risk and vulnerability among black middle-aged and older adults. Trajectories of racial discrimination may inform risk of worse depressive symptoms more accurately than a single assessment of discrimination.

Dataset Information

The relationship between gender discrimination and wellbeing in middle-aged and older women.

Background

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

The relationship between gender discrimination and wellbeing in middle-aged and older women.

Similar Datasets

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