New research shows rural Americans -- especially men -- have shorter lifespans than their urban counterparts

Rural living can be hardest on men. They can expect to
live two fewer years than urban men. (Adobe Stock photo)

Life in rural America is often idealized as a healthier, more authentic way to live, but the truth for many rural residents is that rural living can be hard enough to shorten life spans.

"Rural Americans – particularly men – are expected to live significantly shorter, less healthy lives than their urban counterparts," write Elizabeth Currid-Halkett, Bryan Tysinger and Jack Chapel for The Conversation. "According to our research, published in the Journal of Rural Health, a 60-year-old man living in a rural area is expected on average to live two fewer years than an urban man. For women, the rural-urban gap is six months."

Rural lifestyles may be plagued with harmful health habits and limited access to medical care. They write, "Rates of smoking, obesity, and chronic conditions are worse among rural populations. These conditions are condemning millions to disability and shortened lives." The steady decline of rural health care facilities and providers has compounded rural health problems, especially for residents with chronic conditions who require consistent care.

"We describe the conditions that drive our results as 'diseases of despair,' building off the now widely used term 'deaths of despair,'" the researchers explain. "But the conditions we study, such as heart disease, could similarly be influenced by social and economic prospects. And they can profoundly reduce quality of life."

Education level was also a determining factor in predicting life expectancy. They add, "We found that if rural education levels were as high as in urban areas, this would eliminate almost half of the rural-urban life-expectancy gap. Our data shows 65% of urban 60-year-olds were educated beyond high school, compared with 53% of rural residents the same age."