Education and Health Flashcards
how is education defined?
“education” refers to educational attainment
- the number of years or level of overall schooling a person has (high school, college, university)
what is health education?
- targeted instruction on health topics
- includes: diet, exercise and how to manage a chronic disease
what is the relationship between education and health?
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
how does education impact life expectancy?
- 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!!
what is “status dropout rate”?
the % of 16-24 year olds who are not currently enrolled in school and haven’t earned a high school diploma of equivalent certificate
what is the relationship between high school dropout and income?
- 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%
what is the trend of high school dropouts in Canada?
- 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
how does parental involvement contribute to educational opportunities in wealthier and lower-income schools?
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
which racial and ethnic groups have the highest and lowest high school dropout rates?
- 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!
how does post-secondary attainment vary by racial/ethnic groups?
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
how does educational attainment vary between Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations in Ontario?
- non-Indigenous population = 65% have some form of post-secondary education.
- Indigenous population = only 53% have post-secondary education
how has the value of education changed over time?
- 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
what is the role of systemic racism on educational attainment?
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
how was school funding determined in the United States?
- 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
what are the 3 major pathways that education influences health?
1) health knowledge and behaviours
2) work and income
3) social and psychological resources
what is pathway #1?
education is linked with improved health through its effect on health knowledge, literacy, coping, problem solving, and behaviours
what is pathway #2?
education leads to better employment opportunities and high income, which is linked to better health through reduced financial stress and improved living conditions
what is pathway #3?
education is linked to social and psychological resources that affect health outcomes through stronger social networks and greater sense of control
how does education influence health outcomes through pathway #1?
- 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
what is health literacy?
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
what is the relationship between education and health literacy?
- low levels of health literacy is more prevalent among those with lower educational attainment
- health literacy increases as educational attainment increases
how does education influence health outcomes through pathway #2?
- 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
what are examples of healthy condiitons?
- neighbourhoods without pollution or toxic chemical exposure
- reduced crime and poverty
- healthier food environments
- opportunity for safe exercise
what are the main relationships described in pathway #2?
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
how does education influence job security and financial stability?
- 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
how does education influence working conditions?
- 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
how does education influence work-related benefits?
- 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
how does education influence unemployment and income?
- 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
how does education influence employment and stress?
- 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
how does education influence health outcomes through pathway #3?
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
what is personal control?
an individuals perceptions of the extend to which they, rather than external factors, can influence their life circumstances
how does education influence control beliefs?
- 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
how does education influence social standing?
- greater educational attainment is associated with high social standing
- an individuals perception of their spot in social hierarchy influence their health status
how does education influence social support/network?
- 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)
what is the relationship between parental education and what they provide their children?
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
what does a parent’s education affect?
- child health outcomes
- early development and learning
- future opportunities and income
- “social mobility”
what are the two pathways that parents education impact children’s health?
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
how does a parents educational attainment impact influence a child’s health and development?
- 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
how does a parents educational attainment impact influence a child’s educational attainment?
- 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.
which is the theory of diminished returns?
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
does parental education have the same effect on all racial/ethnic groups?
NO
- research has shown that parental education may benefit white families more than black families
what is the relationship between education and mental health?
individuals with lower educational attainment are more likely to be diagnosed with a mental health disorder
what are the 2 main sources of intergenerational educational attainment?
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
what is social mobility?
- 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
how does social mobility vary across the world?
- 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
what interventions can improve educational disparities?
- 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
what are examples of educational policies?
- 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
