Communities in action: Pathways to health equity

There is extensive research indicating a link between educational attainment (e.g., years of schooling or number of degrees obtained) and health indicators (e.g., life expectancy or death from disease). The effect is even intergenerational, meaning that the education of parents is linked to their children’s health and well-being. Disparities in education mirror disparities in health. Over the last 40 years, in all regions of the United States, the gap in health—specifically in life expectancy—between people with high and low education has become wider.
Improving education can improve health in a number of ways:

• Educational attainment increases health knowledge, literacy, coping, and problem-solving skills, thereby influencing health behaviors.
• Education shapes employment opportunities and related benefits, such as income—another determinant of health.
• Education affects social and psychological factors, like self-efficacy and social supports. (abbreviated author introduction) #P4HEsummit2022