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Postmenopausal function in context: Biocultural observations on Amish, neighboring non‐Amish, and Ifugao household health
Author(s) -
Hewner Sharon J.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
american journal of human biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.559
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1520-6300
pISSN - 1042-0533
DOI - 10.1002/ajhb.1084
Subject(s) - context (archaeology) , geography , sample (material) , community health , social environment , function (biology) , socioeconomics , gerontology , demography , environmental health , demographic economics , sociology , economic growth , medicine , biology , economics , health care , social science , chemistry , archaeology , chromatography , evolutionary biology
Ecological approaches to female post‐reproductive function must consider the social context and microenvironment of the household. A model integrating these environmental factors into the analysis of late‐life well‐being (operationally defined as household health) is presented and explored in three settings: an Old Order Amish community, the neighboring community of non‐Amish, and an Ifugao community in the Philippine highlands. Intensive interview and observation of function were completed in a sample of at least 25 households in each community. The complex interaction of social and biological factors is explored in case studies and through multiple regression analysis with household health as the dependent variable. The results emphasize the importance of social support and assessing capabilities within the household. The results also suggest the need for natural field observation of work to better understand the influence of pacing and scheduling, necessity of work, and the role of environmental modification in postmenopausal function. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 13:521–530, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.