Better health is linked to education

AORN Journal,  Sept, 2002  

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People with more education have better physical and mental health, according to a study conducted at London University's Institute of Education. This study examined people in the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, the United States, Africa, and Latin America.

Findings show that people without university degrees report poor general health more often than those with degrees. Those with low literacy levels are more apt to suffer from depression and commit suicide than their more literate counterparts. Older adults with more years of formal education report lower levels of cognitive decline than those with less education.

Researchers, however, cannot determine whether education leads to better health or better health leads to more education. The following findings are from this study.

* Education improves quality of life by helping people get better jobs and reducing financial worries.

* Education makes people more aware of health-related media messages.

* People who are well educated are more likely to be taken seriously by their physicians.

* Education can reduce inequalities, create tolerance, build social cohesion, and boost the health of entire communities.

* Countries with large socioeconomic gaps have citizens with worse general health than countries without such gaps.

Study Upholds Evidence that Education Leads to Better Health (news release, London: London University's Institute of Education, June 6, 2002) http://media.prnewswire.com (accessed 10 June 2002).

COPYRIGHT 2002 Association of Operating Room Nurses, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group