Ageism and the feminization of old age: A Systematic review

Background: Increases in life expectancy and declining birth rates have intensified the demographic weight of older adults, particularly women. This population frequently faces intersecting age and gender-based discrimi nation, resulting in greater health burdens and lower quality of life compared t...

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Authors: Robles Costa, Juan, Quintero Flórez, Angélica, García Cabrera, Emilio, Romero Barranca, Julia, Vilches Arenas, Ángel
Format: article
Status:Published version
Publication Date:2025
Country:España
Institution:Universidad de Sevilla (US)
Repository:idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla
OAI Identifier:oai:idus.us.es:11441/179430
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/11441/179430
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2025.106084
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Ageism
Feminization of old age
Gender gap
Socioeconomic factors
Aged
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spelling Ageism and the feminization of old age: A Systematic reviewRobles Costa, JuanQuintero Flórez, AngélicaGarcía Cabrera, EmilioRomero Barranca, JuliaVilches Arenas, ÁngelAgeismFeminization of old ageGender gapSocioeconomic factorsAgedBackground: Increases in life expectancy and declining birth rates have intensified the demographic weight of older adults, particularly women. This population frequently faces intersecting age and gender-based discrimi nation, resulting in greater health burdens and lower quality of life compared to men. Objective: To examine gender-based disparities affecting older adults, particularly older women, intending to uncover underlying mechanisms and contribute to the formulation of more equitable, gender-responsive, and age-sensitive public health policies. Study design: This systematic review followed PRISMA guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251104219). Methods: Six databases were searched (2014–2024) for studies in English or Spanish on gender- and age-based health inequalities in older adults. Eligible systematic reviews, observational, and experimental studies were quality-assessed (PRISMA, STROBE, CONSORT), and findings were synthesized qualitatively. Results: Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Across contexts, older women consistently exhibited higher prevalence of disability, frailty, depression, and poorer self-rated health, frequently linked to lower educational attainment and income. In contrast, older men showed lower prevalence of these conditions but faced higher mortality risks from frailty and suicide. Men also tended to report better subjective quality of life. Conclusions: While women live longer, they often experience greater illness and functional limitations. Socio economic disadvantages explain part of these gaps, but a considerable proportion remains unexplained. These f indings highlight the urgent need for gender- and age-sensitive public health strategies to reduce inequities in later life.Elsevier Science Bv; ElsevierMedicina Preventiva y Salud PúblicaCTS312: Análisis de la Demanda SanitariaCTS1162: Investigación Clínica y Experimental en Salud Pública2025info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionapplication/pdfapplication/pdfhttps://hdl.handle.net/11441/179430https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2025.106084reponame:idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevillainstname:Universidad de Sevilla (US)InglésArchives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 141, 106084.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167494325003413?via%3Dihubinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:idus.us.es:11441/1794302026-06-17T12:51:07Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Ageism and the feminization of old age: A Systematic review
title Ageism and the feminization of old age: A Systematic review
spellingShingle Ageism and the feminization of old age: A Systematic review
Robles Costa, Juan
Ageism
Feminization of old age
Gender gap
Socioeconomic factors
Aged
title_short Ageism and the feminization of old age: A Systematic review
title_full Ageism and the feminization of old age: A Systematic review
title_fullStr Ageism and the feminization of old age: A Systematic review
title_full_unstemmed Ageism and the feminization of old age: A Systematic review
title_sort Ageism and the feminization of old age: A Systematic review
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Robles Costa, Juan
Quintero Flórez, Angélica
García Cabrera, Emilio
Romero Barranca, Julia
Vilches Arenas, Ángel
author Robles Costa, Juan
author_facet Robles Costa, Juan
Quintero Flórez, Angélica
García Cabrera, Emilio
Romero Barranca, Julia
Vilches Arenas, Ángel
author_role author
author2 Quintero Flórez, Angélica
García Cabrera, Emilio
Romero Barranca, Julia
Vilches Arenas, Ángel
author2_role author
author
author
author
dc.contributor.none.fl_str_mv Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública
CTS312: Análisis de la Demanda Sanitaria
CTS1162: Investigación Clínica y Experimental en Salud Pública
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Ageism
Feminization of old age
Gender gap
Socioeconomic factors
Aged
topic Ageism
Feminization of old age
Gender gap
Socioeconomic factors
Aged
description Background: Increases in life expectancy and declining birth rates have intensified the demographic weight of older adults, particularly women. This population frequently faces intersecting age and gender-based discrimi nation, resulting in greater health burdens and lower quality of life compared to men. Objective: To examine gender-based disparities affecting older adults, particularly older women, intending to uncover underlying mechanisms and contribute to the formulation of more equitable, gender-responsive, and age-sensitive public health policies. Study design: This systematic review followed PRISMA guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251104219). Methods: Six databases were searched (2014–2024) for studies in English or Spanish on gender- and age-based health inequalities in older adults. Eligible systematic reviews, observational, and experimental studies were quality-assessed (PRISMA, STROBE, CONSORT), and findings were synthesized qualitatively. Results: Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Across contexts, older women consistently exhibited higher prevalence of disability, frailty, depression, and poorer self-rated health, frequently linked to lower educational attainment and income. In contrast, older men showed lower prevalence of these conditions but faced higher mortality risks from frailty and suicide. Men also tended to report better subjective quality of life. Conclusions: While women live longer, they often experience greater illness and functional limitations. Socio economic disadvantages explain part of these gaps, but a considerable proportion remains unexplained. These f indings highlight the urgent need for gender- and age-sensitive public health strategies to reduce inequities in later life.
publishDate 2025
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2025
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv https://hdl.handle.net/11441/179430
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2025.106084
url https://hdl.handle.net/11441/179430
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2025.106084
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 141, 106084.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167494325003413?via%3Dihub
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier Science Bv; Elsevier
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier Science Bv; Elsevier
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla
instname:Universidad de Sevilla (US)
instname_str Universidad de Sevilla (US)
reponame_str idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla
collection idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla
repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
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