Contrary to the widespread view that men are intrinsically more vulnerable to fatal illnesses than women are, the evidence suggests that their risks are mostly behavioral. It is indeed true that males have higher mortality rates from birth on but such biological vulnerability has a limited effect on life expectancy. If men took as good care of themselves as women did, they would live almost as long.
Men around the world live five years less than women and American men are typical, living five years shorter than women (75.8 vs. 80.8 years).
Will H. Courtenay, of Men's Health Consulting in Berkeley, CA, delved through 600 sources dealing with gender differences in health and risk-taking (1,2).
For all fifteen of the leading causes of death, men had higher death rates. Male probabilities of accidental or violent deaths are elevated to an astonishing degree. Here are some of the specific risks of being a man.
Risk on the job
94% of work-related deaths are males. The key reason is that men gravitate to highly dangerous occupations such as fishing, mining, and farming. Even unemployment is more dangerous for men given their elevated risks of alcoholism, depression, and suicide when deprived of a livelihood.
Poor health behavior
Over half of young men aged 18-29 years do not have a regular doctor. Men comprise 70% of those who have not visited a doctor in the past five years. They are not as good as women at forming social support networks that protect against stress-relate illnesses.
Over half of young men aged 18-29 years do not have a regular doctor. Men comprise 70% of those who have not visited a doctor in the past five years. They are not as good as women at forming social support networks that protect against stress-relate illnesses.
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Men consume more fat and cholesterol and eat less fruits, vegetables, and fiber. Twice as many men as women die from smoking-related illnesses.
Women are 50% more likely than men to walk daily as a form of exercise in middle age. Men prefer sports with a high rate of injury, including football and weight lifting, Three times as many men as women engage in binge drinking (over 5 alcoholic drinks in a day), making them highly accident prone and vulnerable to violence.
Accidental death, and violence
Men are four times more likely to be homicide victims. They are five times as likely to die of drowning. Men are twice as likely as women to die in road accidents. They are seven times more likely to be injured by a gunshot and nine times more likely to die of bullet wounds. This carnage reflects greater gun ownership and a stronger penchant for carrying loaded weapons. Men account for 95% of convictions for violent crime, although these data may partly reflect a bias against men in the criminal justice system.
The good newsGrim as these numbers are, they contain a germ of good news. Contrary to the widespread view that men are intrinsically more vulnerable to fatal illnesses than women are, the evidence suggests that their risks are mostly behavioral. It is indeed true that males have higher mortality rates from birth on but such biological vulnerability has a limited effect on life expectancy. If men took as good care of themselves as women did, they would live almost as long.
This conclusion is not merely theoretical. It is demonstrated by the substantial health benefits of marriage - particularly for men. Indeed, married men are about as likely to survive middle age and reach 65 years as married women are with about nine out of ten making it whereas only six out of ten of unmarried men survive (3). (Of course, unmarried men may not be as healthy to begin with so this difference may not be entirely due to marriage).
Marriage means having a better diet, better sleep habits, diminished use of alcohol and recreational drugs, improved social support (mostly from the spouse) and more attention to preventive medicine. Boring and safe is the point. If you want to live as long as a woman, you need to live with a woman and live like a woman.
1. Courtenay, W. H. (2000). Behavioral factors associated with disease, injury, and death, among men: Evidence and implications for prevention. The Journal of Men's Studies, 9, 81-142.
2. Barber, N. (2005). Kindness in a cruel world (pp.182-190). Amherst, New York: Prometheus.
3. Waite, L. J., & Gallagher, M. (2000). The case for marriage. New York: Doubleday.
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