Education and Health

Question 1

how is education defined?

Answer 1

“education” refers to educational attainment
- the number of years or level of overall schooling a person has (high school, college, university)

Question 2

what is health education?

Answer 2

• targeted instruction on health topics
• includes: diet, exercise and how to manage a chronic disease

Question 3

what is the relationship between education and health?

Answer 3

there is a POSITIVE relationship between health and education
- people with more education are more likely to live longer and experience better health outcomes
- in every racial group, higher educational attainment among adults is associated with better health
- they are more likely to practice health-promoting behaviours like exercising, healthy weight, not smoking or drinking

Question 4

how does education impact life expectancy?

Answer 4

• a 25 year old man with only a high school diploma can expect to live to 75
• a 25 year old man with a graduate degree can expect to live to 84
  –> this is a difference of 9 years!!

Question 5

what is “status dropout rate”?

Answer 5

the % of 16-24 year olds who are not currently enrolled in school and haven’t earned a high school diploma of equivalent certificate

Question 6

what is the relationship between high school dropout and income?

Answer 6

• the likelihood of dropping out of high school increases significantly has income decreases
• low socioeconomic status is a strong predictor of dropping out of school
• students from low-income families have a dropout rate of 10%
• students from high-income families have a dropout rate of 1.6%

Question 7

what is the trend of high school dropouts in Canada?

Answer 7

• high school dropout rates in Canada have been declining overtime (from 1990 to 2016)
• highest dropout rates in low-income communities
• dropout rates higher among young men than women

Question 8

how does parental involvement contribute to educational opportunities in wealthier and lower-income schools?

Answer 8

wealthy:
- fundraising for advanced educational tools and programs.
- high expectations from schools for student success.
- strong school council presence and active involvement in decision-making

poor:
- fundraising for basic necessities
- limited school council attendance
- less influence on school decisions

therefore, wealthier schools fund enrichment programs whereas lower-income schools struggle with basics, ultimately impacting school performance

Question 9

which racial and ethnic groups have the highest and lowest high school dropout rates?

Answer 9

• highest drop out rates among Indigenous
• Latino/Hispanics and Black students is in the middle
• White students and Asian students have the lowest rate of dropout

however, the racial/ethnic disparity in high school completion has declined over time!

Question 10

how does post-secondary attainment vary by racial/ethnic groups?

Answer 10

the likelihood of having a bachelor’s degree (or higher) varies among racial/ethnic groups
- the lowest rate is Indigenous
- White are significantly higher in attainment
- highest rate of attainment is Asian

this is likely because college has become unaffordable for low- and middle-income families

Question 11

how does educational attainment vary between Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations in Ontario?

Answer 11

• non-Indigenous population = 65% have some form of post-secondary education.
• Indigenous population = only 53% have post-secondary education

Question 12

how has the value of education changed over time?

Answer 12

• a high school diploma has become to mean increasingly less in today’s economy
• post secondary education (generally a graduate degree) has become a prerequisite for many jobs
• a high school diploma no longer ensures a good job with pay that can support a middle class standard of living

Question 13

what is the role of systemic racism on educational attainment?

Answer 13

systemic racism has limited the educational opportunities for people of colour
- Jim Crow Laws enforced strict segregation, leading to underfunded, unequal, and under-resourced schools
- racial segregation in busing lead to limited access to quality education
- school funding was heavily based on local property taxes, disadvantaging communities with less wealth
- limited wealth within families hindered their ability to send children to college
- increased discipline rates and harsher punishments for students of colour

Question 14

how was school funding determined in the United States?

Answer 14

• school funding was heavily based on the local property taxes
• the greater the property tax, the greater funding
• therefore, low-wealth communities received significantly less funding compared to wealthier communities
• property values vary from neighbourhood to neighbourhood, which lead to disparities in educational resources and quality

essentially, low property value translates to less money available for schools = limited educational opportunities

Question 15

what are the 3 major pathways that education influences health?

Answer 15

1) health knowledge and behaviours
2) work and income
3) social and psychological resources

Question 16

what is pathway #1?

Answer 16

education is linked with improved health through its effect on health knowledge, literacy, coping, problem solving, and behaviours

Question 17

what is pathway #2?

Answer 17

education leads to better employment opportunities and high income, which is linked to better health through reduced financial stress and improved living conditions

Question 18

what is pathway #3?

Answer 18

education is linked to social and psychological resources that affect health outcomes through stronger social networks and greater sense of control

Question 19

how does education influence health outcomes through pathway #1?

Answer 19

• education increases people’s knowledge and comprehension, which enables them to make better-informed health choices for themselves and their family
• educated individuals are more likely to engage in healthier behaviours early in life (healthy eating, physical activity, no smoking and alcohol
• education fosters better (health) literacy, helping individuals to obtain and understand basic health information to make good health decisions

Question 20

what is health literacy?

Answer 20

the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services to make appropriate health decisions and adhere to disease management protocols

*higher levels of health literacy is associated with better levels of self-reported health

Question 21

what is the relationship between education and health literacy?

Answer 21

• low levels of health literacy is more prevalent among those with lower educational attainment
• health literacy increases as educational attainment increases

Question 22

how does education influence health outcomes through pathway #2?

Answer 22

• education provides individuals with the knowledge, skills and credentials necessary for employment
• education increases the likelihood of being employed at a good job with healthy working conditions, better insurance benefits and higher income
• people with more education, because of the income associated with education, are more likely to live in better conditions and within a health-promoting environment that encourages/enables them to adopt healthy behaviours

Question 23

what are examples of healthy condiitons?

Answer 23

• neighbourhoods without pollution or toxic chemical exposure
• reduced crime and poverty
• healthier food environments
• opportunity for safe exercise

Question 24

what are the main relationships described in pathway #2?

Answer 24

1) education, job security/ financial stability, health
2) education, working conditions, health
3) education, work-related benefits, health
4) education, unemployment/ income, health
5) education, employment/ income/ stress, health

Question 25

how does education influence job security and financial stability?

Answer 25

- lower educational attainment is associated with unemployment - individuals with higher education levels may be more likely to retain their jobs during economic fluctuations - education opens doors to more in-demand careers, which often pay more and offer job security

Question 26

how does education influence working conditions?

Answer 26

- less educated works are more likely to be exposed to more occupation hazards - low-pay jobs are associated with poorer working conditions - less educated works more likely to experience more psychological stress due to reduced control

Question 27

how does education influence work-related benefits?

Answer 27

- less-educated workers in lower-wage jobs are are les likely to receive health-related benefits (paid sick leave, maternity leave etc) - low-wage workers may not be able to afford premiums, copayments or deductibles with insurance

Question 28

how does education influence unemployment and income?

Answer 28

- greater educational attainment is associated with higher paying jobs - higher paying jobs offer increased ability to accumulate wealth *some differences in gender and race in terms of wealth*

Question 29

how does education influence employment and stress?

Answer 29

- people with less educational attainment may experience more stress due to fewer financial resources - coping with constant challenges of everyday living can lead to chronic stress (physiological effects, inflammation) - jobs requiring lower levels of education are MORE stressful because they include less autonomy and control

Question 30

how does education influence health outcomes through pathway #3?

Answer 30

education is linked to social and psychological resources: - control beliefs = perception of control over life circumstances, influencing one's ability to manage challenges and make decisions - social standing = position in the social hierarchy, impacting access to resources and opportunities - social support/networks = includes emotional and practical support (e.g., family stability), which can provide assistance and resilience during difficult times

Question 31

what is personal control?

Answer 31

an individuals perceptions of the extend to which they, rather than external factors, can influence their life circumstances

Question 32

how does education influence control beliefs?

Answer 32

- higher levels of education is associated with greater sense of personal control (i.e self-efficacy, skill mastery) - higher education is linked to the development of skills and attitudes (perseverance, confidence) that shapes their trajectory - low levels of education is linked to a sense of powerlessness, fatalism and the belief their efforts are less influential

Question 33

how does education influence social standing?

Answer 33

- greater educational attainment is associated with high social standing - an individuals perception of their spot in social hierarchy influence their health status

Question 34

how does education influence social support/network?

Answer 34

- higher educational attainment, income and employment are associated with higher levels of social support - greater education increases likelihood of having close friends who could have resources to provide help if needed - formal educational setting may encourage the development of long-term friends and interpersonal skills - increase social support is linked to better physical and mental health outcomes by buffering the effects of stress - social relationships can positively or negatively impact health-related behaviours (i.e peer pressure)

Question 35

what is the relationship between parental education and what they provide their children?

Answer 35

there are trans-generational effects!!!! - parents educational attainment has been linked to their children developmental, educational and health outcomes - highly educated parents are more likely to have children who will also persue higher education - parents with higher education are more likely to provide better nutrition, encourage physical activity, and support cognitive development for their children - educated parents tend to invest more time and financial resources into their children's growth, including access to healthcare, extracurricular activities, and a stimulating learning environment

Question 36

what does a parent's education affect?

Answer 36

- child health outcomes - early development and learning - future opportunities and income - "social mobility"

Question 37

what are the two pathways that parents education impact children's health?

Answer 37

parents educational attainment (and economic resources, social status) influence: 1) children's health and development in childhood 2) educational attainment in childhood and young adulthood

Question 38

how does a parents educational attainment impact influence a child's health and development?

Answer 38

- higher parental education is linked to better nutrition and physical activity - parental education is associated with differences in child brain structure and cognitive development - lower educated parents tend to face greater barriers in providing developmental opportunities, a healthy home or modelling positive behaviours for their children

Question 39

how does a parents educational attainment impact influence a child's educational attainment?

Answer 39

- children of more educated parents tend to perform better academically, leading to higher educational attainment - higher parental educational attainment is associated with higher levels of parents investment (time and money) in their children health and education - educated parents are more likely to instil the value of education, setting children up for success in post-secondary schooling.

Question 40

which is the theory of diminished returns?

Answer 40

the theory that people of colour, due to the many effects of racism, often face diminished "returns" from achieving higher SES compared to their white counterparts SIMPLE: people of colour gain fewer benefits from higher SES due to racism

Question 41

does parental education have the same effect on all racial/ethnic groups?

Answer 41

NO - research has shown that parental education may benefit white families more than black families

Question 42

what is the relationship between education and mental health?

Answer 42

individuals with lower educational attainment are more likely to be diagnosed with a mental health disorder

Question 43

what are the 2 main sources of intergenerational educational attainment?

Answer 43

individuals with higher levels of schooling have children who also attain higher levels of schooling 1) selection story - characteristics that lead parents to pursue higher education may also affect their parenting abilities or be linked to other genetic or environmental factors shared with their children - these factors can help children achieve higher levels of education. 2) a causal story - as a result of attaining more education, parents with higher levels of schooling provide a better childhood experience and educational attainment - consequently, their children do better in school

Question 44

what is social mobility?

Answer 44

- social mobility refers to the ability of individuals or families to move up or down the social and economic ladder within a society - it dictates whether children are on the path to having a better life than their parents or if they will remain tethered to their SES status

Question 45

how does social mobility vary across the world?

Answer 45

- the Nordic countries lead the ranking in social mobility due to their high-quality education systems, strong social safety nets, inclusive institutions, and good job opportunities - canada's score is attributed to its healthcare, access to technology, and quality of education but falls short in providing fair work opportunities

Question 46

what interventions can improve educational disparities?

Answer 46

- closing the gap in educational attainment across racial/ethnic, income, and parental education groups is the most effective strategy for improving health and reducing disparities - prioritizing education will equip individuals with the knowledge and skills to participate in the workforce, promoting social mobility and breaking the cycle of intergenerational disadvantage and health disparities

Question 47

what are examples of educational policies?

Answer 47

- equitable funding in schools (poor vs affluent neighbourhoods) - charter schools receiving funding from public government but operate privately - fair school discipline (school to prison pipeline) - free college tuition at state-funded schools