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BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2024

Open Access 01-12-2024 | Research

The sex difference in self-rated health among older Turkish and Moroccan migrants in the Netherlands: an exploratory study of contributing determinants

Authors: Lena D. Sialino, H. A.H. Wijnhoven, S. H. van Oostrom, H. S.J. Picavet, M. Visser, L. A. Schaap

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2024

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Abstract

Background

Although being a woman and having a migration background are strong predictors of poor self-rated health among (older) adults, research on the sex difference in self-rated health among (older) migrants remains limited. This study therefore aims to investigate this topic and explore the contributing role of determinants of self-rated health.

Methods

Cross-sectional data from 360 Turkish-Dutch and Moroccan-Dutch adults aged 55–65 as part of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA) were used. Self-rated health (good versus poor) was measured by a single item question. Univariate age-adjusted logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the sex difference in self-rated health and the contribution of sex differences in sensitivity (strength of the association) and/or exposure (prevalence) to socio-demographic, social, lifestyle or health-related determinants of self-rated health.

Results

Women had a 0.53 times lower odds (95%CI:0.40–0.82, p = 0.004) on good self-rated health compared to men. Women more often having a lower education level, living alone and having a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms, chronic diseases and especially functional limitations contributed to the lower self-rated health among women. In contrast, men were more sensitive to the impact of memory complaints, depressive symptoms, visual difficulties and functional limitations.

Conclusions

Older Turkish-Dutch and Moroccan-Dutch women have a significant lower self-rated health compared to men. Women having a higher exposure to both socio-demographic and health-related determinants of self-rated health, which contributed to the sex difference. Future research should take these differences in self-rated health and determinants between women and men into account when investigating health among older migrants.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
The sex difference in self-rated health among older Turkish and Moroccan migrants in the Netherlands: an exploratory study of contributing determinants
Authors
Lena D. Sialino
H. A.H. Wijnhoven
S. H. van Oostrom
H. S.J. Picavet
M. Visser
L. A. Schaap
Publication date
01-12-2024
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2024
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-17479-6

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