1960s shift in life expectancy in socialist countries

[ionelv]

In the 1960s, male mortality began rising in all socialist countries, while female mortality, if it increased at all, rose at a much lower rate. The mortality gap widened, and this trend has persisted ever since. According to a British study from 1996, the difference between mortality rates in Eastern Europe and those in Western Europe was primarily a result of differing behavioral patterns: neglecting one’s personal health, as well as alcohol and tobacco addiction, were particularly common among men in socialist bloc countries.

Analysts from the think tank To Be Precise have identified several factors that they say likely contributed to the higher levels of destructive behaviors in these countries. These include:

* Ideological norms that prioritized societal interests over individual well-being and promoted the idea that “life should include an element of heroism”;
* A higher share of the population doing hazardous jobs or working in facilities with unhealthy conditions;
* The media’s promotion of the ideal man as someone strong who never complains.

Source: meduzo.io

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