Educational Attainment in the Context of Social Inequality: New Directions for Research on Education and Health

Citation

Walsemann, Katrina M.; Gee, Gilbert C.; & Ro, Annie (2013). Educational Attainment in the Context of Social Inequality: New Directions for Research on Education and Health. American Behavioral Scientist. vol. 57 (8) pp. 1082-1104

Abstract

A large literature documents a strong and consistent educational gradient in health: more-educated persons enjoy lower rates of morbidity and mortality. This literature has generally focused on the amount of schooling one completes but has yet to comprehensively examine other facets of education, such as educational quality or school segregation. More importantly, the literature has generally conceptualized education at the level of individual persons and has yet to fully study the structural dimensions of education and the production of educational inequities. The goal of this article is to identify several areas of educational inequity beyond personal educational attainment. These include (a) population differences in the strength of the educational gradient in health, (b) educational quality, (c) school segregation, and (d) the role of place of education among immigrants. We also discuss some emerging issues, such as student debt and pathways to education. Accordingly, there is much work to be done to further our knowledge regarding the relationship between education and health.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1177%2F0002764213487346

Notes

10.1177/0002764213487346

Reference Type

Journal Article

Journal Title

American Behavioral Scientist

Author(s)

Walsemann, Katrina M.
Gee, Gilbert C.
Ro, Annie

Year Published

2013

Volume Number

57

Issue Number

8

Pages

1082-1104

DOI

10.1177/0002764213487346

Reference ID

4501