Warning to elderly women: dump your husband now

[rumpel]

The Asahi Shimbun
An award-winning health-care leader has this message to elderly women: living with your husband is bad for your health.

A research project conducted by Koichiro Fujimoto of the Ehime General Health Care Association showed that elderly women living with their retired husbands had almost twice the risk of dying than women living by themselves.

"There are many elderly men who depend on their wives for much of their daily lives, and the presence of the husband is a physical and emotional burden on the wife," said Fujimoto, who received an award from the Ehime medical association on Sunday for his work on the health risks facing senior citizens.

Fujimoto's team started the research between 1996 and 1998.

About 3,100 men and women between 60 and 84 living in what was then Shigenobu, next to Matsuyama, were asked to reply to a 17-part questionnaire. They were asked about their medical history, if they had a living spouse, if they smoked, and other lifestyle queries. Shigenobu has since merged into what is now the city of Toon.

About five years later, between 2001 and 2002, the research team determined whether their subjects were still living.

http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200701290215.html

advice to husbands: help around the house
Note: culturally very uncommon in Japan

[LeftyMom]

1. Twice the risk of dying?

So that would be 200% then, right? ;)

[rumpel]

2. time to hand him the vacuum cleaner

:rofl:

[babylonsister]

3. Just.Hanging.Out.

:popcorn: Oh, and taking notes! :D

[rumpel]

4. .....

:evilgrin:

[pennylane100]

5. Is this the same country where one official called women baby machines.

who were apparently under performing when it came to the baby making duties and thereby putting Japan in jeopardy because of the declining birthrate, according to the official who commented on the case. ( I cannot find a link)

However statistics from this survey seem to go a long way to give at least one reason why some women would not want to act as baby machines because it seems that after they have raised these children, their job is not done, they still have to care for the ailing husband and possibly any parents that are still around.

I think the single life looks good to these women, especially if the are well educated and do not need to rely on others for their well-being.

[rumpel]

6. I missed that

but it is possible - many officials in Japan are not very enlightened yet, especially inside the ruling party -
I bet you it must have caused an uproar among the younger generation.

they are still fighting over whether a woman (princess) can become Emperor - the prince only has girls...

[Karenina]

7. Here's the link:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2706805

And: "Women see less need for ol' ball and chain"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x259584

[malaise]

8. I never understand these studies

I'd rather die a few years younger and have my hubby around than give up a decades old relationship for a few extra years on my own. No doubt if a woman has never worked, she has to make serious adjustments with a retired hubby in the house all day, but if they have both worked for most of their lives, staying home is a new experience for both of them.