financial). They are also more like

financial). They are also more likely to experience chronic stress and stressful life
events.22
Research Question Gender differences in exposure to social (i.e., socio-economic,
lifestyle, and psychosocial) resources play a significant role in influencing gender
inequalities in health. A related question asks if these inequalities are also influenced by
gendered vulnerabilities to social forces; in other words, do social factors have a
differential impact on the health of men and women? For example, do men and women
with similar levels of stress, or who have experienced the same stressful life event, have
comparable health status? This research contributes to the literature by examining gender
differences in vulnerability to the health consequences of high/low SES, “good”/“bad”
health behaviours, and high/low psychosocial resources among elderly (65+) persons.
Methods
Data We use data from the cross-sectional household component of the 1994-1995
National Population Health Survey (NPHS), which covers a representative sample of
private Canadian household residents (excluding those on Reserves and Canadian Forces
Bases and in some remote areas in Quebec and Ontario). Approximately 3,000
respondents aged 65 years and older are included in this datafile. The findings presented
in this paper are based on weighted data. The original sample weights in the NPHS,
however, were re-scaled so that the average weight is equal to one. While this approach
does not take into account the stratification and clustering of the NPHS sampling design,
it does take into account its unequal probabilities of selection.
Measurement Health is measured on both subjective and objective levels.
Subjective health status is assessed through the question “In general, would you say your