The Influence of Inequality across the Life Course: Gender and Health in Lebanon

Indicators of gender inequality include socioeconomic and social dimensions, both of which influence health over the life course. The Lebanese population has endured declining economic conditions, political instability and conflict, which likely create unique contextual factors that shape experiences of inequality for men and women, including health over the life course. In this paper, a profile of inequality regarding family structure and social relations, as well as education level and income in a lifespan sample in Lebanon are presented. Data were drawn from a representative sample of adults aged 18 and older in Greater Beirut, Lebanon ( N = 500). Descriptive analysis and structural equation models were conducted to examine gender patterns in inequality, and to investigate main and interactive effects of age, gender, and inequality on physical and psychological health. Women report on average lower levels of education and income. Social network size does not vary among men and women, yet women are less likely to be married. Female respondents reported worse physical and psychological health than male respondents on average. When we interact gender with age, we see that the gender difference in physical health is largest for older respondents. Female respondents also scored higher than male respondents on depressive symptoms, but the difference is reduced by about 33% and becomes non-significant after controlling for measures of inequality. Education level, above and beyond other indicators of inequality, explains the link between gender and health for both physical and psychological dimensions, and is most prominent among the oldest segment of the population. Findings suggest that gender inequalities are greatest in later life in Lebanon. The Lebanese context provides insights into the heterogeneity of gender experiences to showcase unique social, economic, and health needs over the life course.