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Gender differences in social mortality differentials in Switzerland (1990-2005)

Author

Listed:
  • Reto Schumacher

    (Statistique Vaud (Service Cantonal de Recherche et d'Informations Statistiques [SCRIS]))

  • Sarah Vilpert

    (Observatoire Suisse de la Santé (Obsan))

Abstract

Using data from the 1990 and 2000 Swiss Federal Censuses linked to the death records of the years 1990-1995 and 2000-2005, this paper investigates gender differences in mortality differentials by level of educational achievement and by marital status. In both periods, the differential by level of education is clearly more pronounced among men, but the difference in the educational gradient between men and women decreases between the two periods of observation. Health behavior might contribute to the gender difference in the educational mortality gradient, but it is probably not the main reason for this finding. The mortality differential by marital status is also stronger in men, but the difference between men and women narrows over time. Our analysis also shows that gender differences in the mortality differential by marital status almost disappear when gender differences in population composition by level of education, nationality, employment status, and housing situation are taken into account.

Suggested Citation

  • Reto Schumacher & Sarah Vilpert, 2011. "Gender differences in social mortality differentials in Switzerland (1990-2005)," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 25(8), pages 285-310.
    • Handle: RePEc:dem:demres:v:25:y:2011:i:8
    DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2011.25.8
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lee Lillard & Constantijn Panis, 1996. "Marital status and mortality: The role of health," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 33(3), pages 313-327, August.
    2. repec:cai:poeine:pope_1002_0217 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Yuanreng Hu & Noreen Goldman, 1990. "Mortality Differentials by Marital Status: An International Comparison," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 27(2), pages 233-250, May.
    4. Gary S. Becker, 1981. "A Treatise on the Family," NBER Books, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc, number beck81-1.
    5. Adrian Spoerri & Marcel Zwahlen & Matthias Egger & Matthias Bopp, 2010. "The Swiss National Cohort: a unique database for national and international researchers," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 55(4), pages 239-242, August.
    6. Wyke, Sally & Ford, Graeme, 1992. "Competing explanations for associations between marital status and health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 34(5), pages 523-532, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Mazzonna, Fabrizio, 2014. "The long lasting effects of education on old age health: Evidence of gender differences," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 129-138.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    gender; education; marital status; Switzerland; differential mortality; linked census data;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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