Epidemiol Health.  2021;43(1):e2021023. 10.4178/epih.e2021023.

Gender role stereotypes, patriarchal attitudes, and cognitive function in the elderly rural Korean population: a cross-sectional study

• Choi HR
• Ha B
• Jeon YJ
• Youm Y
• Kim HC
• Jung SJ

• KMID: 2517163
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2021023

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
We analyzed whether gender role stereotypes (GRS) and patriarchal attitudes are associated with cognitive function in an elderly community.
METHODS
We analyzed data from 580 people enrolled in the Korean Social Life, Health, and Aging Project. The degrees to which respondents held stereotypical beliefs about gender roles and had patriarchal mindsets were measured using a questionnaire. Based on participants’ responses, we divided respondents into 2 groups—those with conservative mindsets and those with open mindsets—according to the median score for each of the 2 variables. Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination, Korean version (MMSE-K). Cognitive impairment was defined as an MMSE-K score ≤21 points. Multivariable logistic regression was performed, adjusting for gender, age, socio-demographic and lifestyle factors, and social network size. Age and lifestyle factors were stratified.
RESULTS
Compared to those with open mindsets, those with conservative mindsets regarding gender roles and patriarchal norms had adjusted odds ratios of 1.88 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11 to 3.19) and 1.67 (95% CI, 1.00 to 2.79) for cognitive impairment, respectively. In the stratified analysis, subgroups with younger age and a good lifestyle maintained a protective association with cognitive impairment.
CONCLUSIONS
GRS and a patriarchal mindset were marginally significantly associated with cognitive impairment among women later in life.

Keyword

Gender role, Stereotyping, Cognitive dysfunction, Geriatrics, Public health