Education, Gender, and Functional Transitions Among Older Indonesians

Toshiko Kaneda, Population Council

Using data on Indonesian elderly from two waves of the Indonesian Family Life Survey, this study first examines the effects of educational attainment on functional health transitions and mortality, then investigates possible gender differences in these effects. Past studies showing a positive association between education and old-age health are plentiful, but few are based on data from developing countries. My results show that those who have higher education and are functionally healthy at the time of first interview (1993) are less likely to have a limitation or to be deceased at follow-up (1997). Education, however, has little effect among those who are functionally limited at the time of first interview. Tests for gender interactions show that education reduces the risk of functional limitation among men, but the effect is smaller among women. This gender specific relationship may be partly explained by widely documented differences in social roles and expectations.