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

Reto Schumacher; Sarah Vilpert

doi:10.4054/DemRes.2011.25.8

Volume 25 - Article 8 | Pages 285–310

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

By Reto Schumacher, Sarah Vilpert

Date received:

21 Oct 2009

Date published:

26 Jul 2011

Word count:

7433

Keywords:

differential mortality, education, gender, linked census data, marital status, Switzerland

DOI:

10.4054/DemRes.2011.25.8

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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.

Author’s Affiliation

Reto Schumacher - Statistique Vaud (Service Cantonal de Recherche et d'Informations Statistiques [SCRIS]), Switzerland EMAIL
Sarah Vilpert - Observatoire Suisse de la Santé (Obsan), Switzerland EMAIL

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

Abstract

Author’s Affiliation

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