Battle of the Sexes

By Catherine Steele

Although a great deal of research has studied whether or not males are healthier than females, little of this research on health and gender has also considered the effect of disability. Few researchers have looked at whether or not the health of males with disabilities differs from that of females with disabilities.

Recently, a research project looked at the health of young adults with disabilities, 19 to 35 years of age, who lived across Ontario. Two hundred and eighty adults (49 per cent were female, 51 per cent male) completed a mailed health survey based on an international one developed by the World Health Organization. Its questions covered several key health issues.

In these key health issues, who do you think is healthier, males or females? Here are the results: 1) smoking: the same -- very few smoke; 2) alcohol consumption: males drink more than females; 3) drug use: the same -- few use illegal drugs; 4) physical exercise: the same -- few exercise; 5) watching TV: the same -- many watch more than four hours daily; 6) playing computer games or using VCR: males do these almost twice as much as females; 7) eating fresh produce: males eat less fresh produce than females; 8) eating sweets: males eat more sweets; 9) feeling of loneliness: males and females have similarly high degrees of loneliness; and 10) confidence: males are more confident than females.

Who wins? Of the 10 health issues reported, there are five ties, four areas in which females are healthier, and one in which males are healthier.

We could say the females win. But look more closely at the ties: Although males and females smoke and used drugs infrequently, they both exercise rarely, watch TV a lot, and are lonely. Hence, of the five ties, both win in two areas, but both lose in three.

Can anything be done to change these findings? Let’s work together so that males and females with disabilities can both win the battle of health!

(If you have any suggestions or comments, please call Catherine Steele at Bloorview MacMillan Children’s Centre in Toronto (416) 424-3855 (or 1-800-363-2440), ext.3642, or leave an e-mail message at csteele@bloorviewmacmillan.on.ca.)