The impact of multiple role occupancy on health-related behaviours in Japan: differences by gender and age.
OBJECTIVE
We examined gender and age differences in the impact of multiple role occupancy on health-related behaviours and health status among working age Japanese adults.


METHODS
We analysed the individually linked, nationally representative data of 5693 respondents aged 20-59, who completed the Comprehensive Survey of the Living Conditions of People on Health and Welfare and the National Nutrition Survey, conducted by the Japanese government in 1995.


RESULTS
Younger women benefited from multiple roles (less smoking), while younger men demonstrated more high-risk behaviours (more smoking, heavier drinking). By contrast, middle-aged men benefited from multiple roles (less smoking, fewer health problems), while middle-aged women reported lower health maintenance behaviours (less exercise, fewer health check-ups).


CONCLUSIONS
Japanese society appears to be undergoing a transition in gender roles, as reflected by age and gender differences in the impact of multiple roles on health and health-related behaviours. Middle-aged males benefit from multiple roles (being the primary bread-winner and being married), while middle-aged women do not. This pattern seems to break down for younger Japanese men and women.
Takeda
Y
Y
Office for Cancer Control, Health Service Bureau, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, 1-2-2 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8916, Japan. Ymuytakeda@aol.com
Kawachi
I
I
Yamagata
Z
Z
Hashimoto
S
S
Matsumura
Y
Y
Oguri
S
S
Okayama
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D017028:Caregivers; D004651:Employment; D005191:Family Characteristics / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D016487:Parenting; D011593:Psychology, Social; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D014931:Women, Working / Q000523:psychology