Gender Difference in General Self-Efficacy among Young-Old Elderly Aged 60-74 in Rural Shandong China: A Cross-Sectional Survey

This study aims to explore the determinants of general self-efficacy (GSE) among young-old elderly, with focus on examining the gender difference of general self-efficacy. Data were collected from the 2017 Survey of the Shandong Elderly Family Health Service, which was conducted by Shandong University. T-test was used to examine the gender difference in GSE. Univariate models and adjusted multiple linear regression model were used to explore the determinants of GSE by gender. The females' GSE score was lower than that of male participants (26.1 ± 8.1 vs. 28.7 ± 7.7), and there was a significant gender difference (t = 10.877, < 0.001). Multiple linear regression model showed that some factors are common significant determinants of GSE such as age, education level, activity of daily living (ADL), self-rated health, mental health, personality, and whether participants have intimate friends and interpersonal relationships. Hypertension and frequent communication with children were specific determinants of GSE among male young-old. Personal income was a specific determinant of female participants. Some influencing factors of GSE in both genders are identical, the others are different. More attention should be paid for the poor young-old females, young-old males with hypertension, and disabled young-old people.