Education Shapes Health and Health Disparities in Many Ways

Abstract

Abstract This chapter examines the ways in which education (schooling) can influence health and produce health disparities. As with income and wealth, a graded relationship—with incremental improvement in health as educational level increases—has repeatedly been observed, adding to evidence supporting a causal relationship. The education–health relationship has generally been stronger when examining completed degrees or levels rather than number of years of schooling, suggesting the importance of the social recognition and economic rewards generally conferred by education. Education plays a major role in determining a person’s income, largely because it strongly determines the kind of work one can obtain. It can be difficult at times to separate out the effects of education from those of income because they are strongly associated with each other; however, education and income appear to have substantial independent effects. Reflecting a long and ongoing history of systemic and structural racism, there are large racial/ethnic disparities in education, with implications for disparities in health. Systemic and structural racism have constrained the educational opportunities of people of color. For example, discriminatory bank lending practices have blocked many people of color from home ownership, thereby reducing the funding available for local schools, which depend significantly on local property taxes. The chapter discusses policies to improve health by improving education and reducing educational disparities.