Low socioeconomic status of the opposite sex is a risk factor for middle aged mortality

OBJECTIVES: To examine the relations between subjective social status, and objective socioeconomic status (as measured by income and education) in relation to male/female middle aged mortality rates across 150 sub-regions in Hungary. DESIGN: Cross sectional, ecological analyses. SETTING: 150 sub-regions of Hungary. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: 12,643 people were interviewed in the Hungaro-study 2002 survey, representing the Hungarian population according to sex, age, and sub-regions. Independent variables were subjective social status, personal income, and education. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: For ecological analyses, sex specific mortality rates were calculated for the middle aged population (45-64 years) in the 150 sub-regions of Hungary. RESULTS: In ecological analyses, education and subjective social status of women were more significantly associated with middle aged male mortality, than were male education, male subjective social status, and income. Among the socioeconomic factors female education was the most important protective factor of male mid-aged mortality. Subjective social status of the opposite sex was significantly associated with mid-aged mortality, more among men than among women. CONCLUSION: Pronounced sex interactions were found in the relations of education, subjective social status, and middle aged mortality rates. Men seem to be more vulnerable to the socioeconomic status of women than women to the effects of socioeconomic status of men. Subjective social status of women was an important predictor of mortality among middle aged men as was female education. The results suggest that improved socioeconomic status of women is protective for male health as well as for female health.