Refining the 8-factor GVHR model to improve gender-related health prediction

Gender is a multidimensional construct that extends beyond biological sex and traditional gender roles. The Gender-Related Variables for Health Research (GVHR) assesses gender-related norms, traits, and relations relevant to health. This study aimed to refine and validate the Spanish GVHR and examine its associations with traditional gender measures and health indicators. A total of 646 adults aged 18–78 years completed the GVHR, the Personality Traits Questionnaire, the Gender Determinism scale, and measures of health-related quality of life, psychological health, and health-risk behaviours. Confirmatory factor analysis, factorial invariance, correlations, and multivariate logistic regressions adjusted for sex, age, education, marital status, and income were conducted. The revised Spanish GVHR supported an eight-factor structure comprising caregiver strain, work strain, independence, risk taking, emotional intelligence, social support, discrimination, and competition. Model fit was adequate (RMSEA = 0.052, 95% CI [0.048–0.056]; CFI = 0.91; TLI = 0.90; GFI = 0.96), and scalar invariance was supported across sex and age. Caregiver strain was associated with poorer general health (OR = 2.29), mental health (OR = 1.59), physical health (OR = 1.34), and health limitations (OR = 1.68), as well as greater odds of depression (OR = 1.85), lower life satisfaction (OR = 0.45), and greater work-family conflict (OR = 2.22). Work strain was also associated with poorer mental health (OR = 1.67), physical health (OR = 1.50), depression (OR = 1.61), and work-family conflict (OR = 2.79). Discrimination was associated with poorer physical health (OR = 1.36) and greater health limitations (OR = 1.62). These associations remained after adjustment for sex, age, education level, marital status, and income. The findings support the refined Spanish GVHR as a multidimensional measure of gender-related variables relevant to health research. The reformulation of independence and emotional intelligence and the inclusion of competition extend the previous Spanish adaptation. The findings highlight the relevance of caregiver strain, work strain, discrimination, and social support for understanding variation in health indicators.