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Sex differentials in health and mortality.
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1987
Year
Mortality RatesSocial Determinants Of HealthReproductive EpidemiologySocial SciencesSexual InactivityGender DisparityGender StudiesExcess Male MortalityPublic HealthLife ExpectancySexual And Reproductive HealthHuman HealthHealth SurveysSex DifferenceEpidemiologySexual HealthFemale Death RatesSex DifferentialsWomen's Health
Females generally outlive males and have lower death rates across age groups, yet they experience higher morbidity, disability, and health service use. The article examines sex differences in mortality and health, highlighting the paradox of higher female morbidity alongside higher male mortality. The authors discuss potential explanations for these sex differentials, exploring why excess female morbidity coincides with excess male mortality.
It is common knowledge that females tend to live longer than males. In the United States and most other countries, female death rates are lower than male rates for all age groups and most important causes of death. But while they are alive, females' health seems to be worse than males'. Health surveys repeatedly show that females have higher rates of illness, disability days, and health services use. In this article, sex differentials in mortality are presented first, followed by sex differentials in health. Possible explanations for these sex differentials are discussed, and the apparent contradiction--why there is excess female morbidity but excess male mortality--is considered.