High-flying, professional women can expect to live to the ripe old age of 85 — that is two and half years longer than they would have done four years ago.
Govt survey says that high incomes & status make women live longer
LONDON: High-flying, professional women can expect to live to the ripe old age of 85 — that is two and half years longer than they would have done four years ago. A survey by the Office of National Statistics shows that women in high-status, well-paid jobs like medicine, law and finance in the UK are living longer than men in similar positions, and longer than both the sexes in lower social classes.
Life expectancy among men in the professional classes has risen from 79.5 years to 80 years during the same four-year period.Women at the top are now in better shape, have quicker access to healthcare, are no longer dying of breast cancer and can afford better holidays. But the greatest benefits to life expectancy according to some epidemiologists comes from the psychological boost a high-status job gives when women are largely in control.
Dr Eric Brunner, a reader in epidemiology at University College London said access to money and high self-esteem has a big impact to health and longevity. "Money, wealth and resources, particularly psychological, mean that women feel more in control or their lives," said Brunner.
The survey also showed that the gap between the wealthy and poorer classes had widened. During the same period, life expectancy for women in the lowest social class — unskilled workers and labourers — rose from 77.9 to 78.1 years, an increase of only 10 weeks. Drinking and smoking are taking their toll on women in the lower classes with increased obesity levels among this group than any other.
"Evidence shows that low income people have higher smoking rates and their diets tend to be poorer because high-fat and-sugar diets are cheaper," said Karen Jochelson, researcher at the Kings Fund health think-tank.
"They may live in poor quality housing which is damp and has poor heating, or near busy roads which means more air pollution. But the nature of people's jobs also has an effect. If you have autonomy and control over what you do you tend to be in better health," said Jochelson.
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