More women than men on long-term disability as gender gap continues to rise
Significantly more women than men are on long-term disability and that gender gap is still widening. In a new report, the Flemish independent health insurance funds call for more attention to be paid to the under-reported issue of gender inequality in disability.
Statistics from Belgium's National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance show that by the end of 2022, 284,732 women and 187,195 men had been on disability for more than a year. Disability among women has also been growing faster than among men for years.
Underestimated conditions
There are several factors behind the gender gap, the insurers say. For example, more women than men have chronic or long-term health problems (28 per cent versus 23 per cent). Women also face specific conditions whose impact is often underestimated, such as endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, menstrual pain and menopause and perimenopause.
Women also have a higher prevalence of anxiety and depression than men, according to the report. "Seven out of 10 periods of disability of more than six months due to burnout, mood disorders or anxiety disorders affect women," it says. "Burnout and depression largely explain the greater increase in disability among women, with a 50 per cent increase in 5 years."
"Burnout and depression largely explain the greater increase in disability among women, with a 50 per cent increase in 5 years"
Impact of violence
Women also experience more violence - psychological, sexual, harassment - than men. This can lead to anxiety, depression, reduced motivation, lower self-esteem and a higher risk of developing gastrointestinal problems and chronic pain. Victims of sexual violence are more likely to quit their jobs, be absent from work and avoid their professional obligations, according to the report.
In addition, women are more likely to be in low-skilled jobs, to work part-time and to be paid less on average. They are also more likely than men to have caring responsibilities. Single-parent families are also more often headed by a woman.
The health insurers make 10 recommendations to policymakers to reduce the gender gap. These include information campaigns to raise awareness of conditions specific to women, support for employers to introduce gender equality policies, measures to promote the sharing of caring responsibilities between men and women, and better support for a healthy work-life balance.
© AFP PHOTO / FREDERIC J. BROWN
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