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Association between literacy and self-rated poor health in 33 high-and upper-middle-income countries

Author

Listed:
  • Sujay Kakarmath

    (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health)

  • Vanessa Denis

    (OECD)

  • Marta Encinas-Martín

    (OECD)

  • Francesca Borgonovi

    (OECD)

  • S. V. Subramanian

    (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health)

Abstract

We assess the relationship between general literacy skills and health status by analysing data from the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC), an international survey of about 250 000 adults aged 16-65 years conducted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) from 2011-15 in 33 countries/national sub-regions. Across countries, there seems to be a strong and consistent association between general literacy proficiency and self-rated poor health, independent of prior socio-economic status and income. General literacy proficiency also appears to be a mediator of the association between self-education and self-rated poor health. While the literacy-health association is robust over time, it varies in magnitude across countries. It is strongest for those with a tertiary or higher degree and does not appear to exist among young adults (ages 25 to 34 years). Future studies are required to understand the contextual factors that modify the general literacy proficiency-health association.

Suggested Citation

  • Sujay Kakarmath & Vanessa Denis & Marta Encinas-Martín & Francesca Borgonovi & S. V. Subramanian, 2018. "Association between literacy and self-rated poor health in 33 high-and upper-middle-income countries," OECD Education Working Papers 165, OECD Publishing.
    • Handle: RePEc:oec:eduaab:165-en
    DOI: 10.1787/7aaeac27-en
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    Cited by:

    1. Jacobs, Babs & van der Velden, Rolf, 2021. "Exploring the uncharted waters of educational mobility: The role of key skills," Research Memorandum 016, Maastricht University, Graduate School of Business and Economics (GSBE).

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