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Educational inequalities in self-rated health across US states and European countries

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  • Patrick Präg

    (University of Oxford)

  • S. V. Subramanian

    (Harvard Chan School of Public Health)

Abstract

Objectives The US shows a distinct health disadvantage when compared to other high-income nations. A potential lever to reduce this disadvantage is to improve the health situation of lower socioeconomic groups. Our objective is to explore how the considerable within-US variation in health inequalities compares to the health inequalities across other Western countries. Methods Representative survey data from 44 European countries and the US federal states were obtained from the fourth wave of the European Values Study (EVS) and the 2008 wave of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Using binary logistic regression, we analyze different forms of educational inequalities in self-rated health (SRH), adjusted for age and sex. Results The extent of educational inequalities in SRH varies considerably over European countries and US states; with US states in general showing greater inequality, however, differences between US states and European countries are less clear than commonly assumed. Conclusions The US has considerable differences in educational inequalities in SRH across geographic locations. To understand the reasons for the US health disadvantage, comparative research has to take into account the vast variation in health inequalities within the US.

Suggested Citation

  • Patrick Präg & S. V. Subramanian, 2017. "Educational inequalities in self-rated health across US states and European countries," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 62(6), pages 709-716, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ijphth:v:62:y:2017:i:6:d:10.1007_s00038-017-0981-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s00038-017-0981-6
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    2. Jona Schellekens & Anat Ziv, 2020. "The role of education in explaining trends in self-rated health in the United States, 1972–2018," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 42(12), pages 383-398.
    3. Elsa Jacquet & Sarah Robert & Pierre Chauvin & Gwenn Menvielle & Maria Melchior & Gladys Ibanez, 2018. "Social inequalities in health and mental health in France. The results of a 2010 population-based survey in Paris Metropolitan Area," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(9), pages 1-14, September.
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    5. Jutz, Regina, 2020. "Health inequalities in Eastern Europe. Does the role of the welfare regime differ from Western Europe?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 267(C).

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