Documento de Trabajo CIIE, No. 2008-02

Watkins, K. "Health, Social Roles, and Life Cycle: A Gender Approach"

Abstract
Gender is an important issue for studying health and medication use. Most of the literature has identified significant health-related differences between men and women. These can be explained by biological factors, socioeconomic issues, and psychological features. The present study analyses in particular the effects of multiple roles and life cycle on female health. It is based on surveys on medication use, implemented in Costa Rica in June 2003, 2004, and 2005. Results show that generally having no roles is better for women’s well-being than having three roles. However, those women with one or two roles possess worse health conditions than those with three roles. When controlling for life cycle, it appears that young women with preschool and elementary school children are most vulnerable. Their health perception, life, and economic satisfaction are significantly lower than for the rest of women.