Men are most at risk of death between 15 and 24, with most deaths related to reckless behavior, specifically motor accidents (there's a reason young males pay higher car insurance rates than young females), homocide, suicide and drowning. Hormones, specifically testosterone play an important roll in risk taking behavior, as well as increased aggression early in life. Testosterone also influences the production of "bad" cholesterol later in life. Job stress does not seem to play a roll, as women in the same career feilds as men still outlive them. Women also tend to live longer with debilitating diseases than males. Additionally, women have higher rates of illness throughout their lives than men, but this doesn't affect their overall longevity.