Gender, Age, and Well-Being in Later Life: Perspectives from Algeria, Lebanon, and Palestine

Kristine Ajrouch, Eastern Michigan University
Abla Sibai, American University of Beirut
Kathryn M. Yount, Emory University
Pia Roman, Eastern Michigan University

Population aging has received minimal attention in Arab countries. Demographic trends are consistent; yet, aging experiences may vary substantially by gender because of men’s and women’s distinct prior economic, social, and health trajectories. Moreover, older adults in several Middle Eastern countries have endured periods of political instability and conflict, which likely have shaped well-being and their vulnerabilities in later life. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive comparative profile of well-being concerning family relations, socio-economic status, and health of older women and men, by age. Unique data from probability samples of older adults are available for three Arab countries (Algeria, 2002, n=3958 60+; Lebanon 2004, n=1812 65+; Palestine, 2006–7, n=1641 60+). Analysis of variance was carried out to examine gender and age patterns within each country concerning each well-being dimension. We document areas of resilience and where challenges lie for older men and women in the three Middle Eastern countries.