Every year spent in education improves your life expectancy, new study finds
Every year of education can reduce your mortality risk by nearly 2 per cent, a new study has found. Not having any education, meanwhile, is as bad for your health as drinking too much alcohol or smoking 10 cigarettes a year for 10 years.
That’s according to a meta-analysis that aimed to quantify the relationship between education and mortality. The review included 603 studies from across the globe.
People who completed primary school had an average 13 per cent lower risk of death, while those who completed secondary school (with 12 years of education) had a 25 per cent lower risk of death compared to those who did not. People with 18 years of education had a 34 per cent reduction in mortality risk, the study revealed.
The findings were published in the scientific journal The Lancet Public Health this week.
Educational attainment plays a crucial role in determining an individual’s life expectancy. Education is important in its own right, not just for its benefits on health, but now being able to quantify the magnitude of this benefit is a significant development, Dr Terje Andreas Eikemo, co-author and head of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)’s Centre for Global Health Inequalities Research, said.
The study, which was funded by the Research Council of Norway and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, called for more research from areas of the world where access to schooling is low. Most of the studies included in the meta-analysis were from high-income areas.
By increasing years of global schooling, we can help counteract growing disparities in mortality, the authors said.
The researchers also compared the impact of education on mortality to other lifestyle factors. These findings are similar to the protective effects of a good diet and physical activity and the harms of risk factors such as smoking and alcohol, the authors added.
Claire Henson, co-first author and researcher at the University of Washington Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), emphasized the importance of investing in people’s opportunities to get an education. Closing the education gap means closing the mortality gap, and we need to interrupt the cycle of poverty and preventable deaths with the help of international commitment. In order to reduce inequalities in mortality, it’s important to invest in areas that promote people’s opportunities to get an education. This can have a positive effect on population health in all countries, Henson stated.
Education is compulsory in EU countries, ranging from France and Hungary enrolling children at age 3 to Croatia and Estonia starting kids by age 7. According to figures from the European Education and Culture Executive Agency, France, Belgium, and Germany have the longest duration of compulsory education in the bloc.
The study highlights the crucial link between education and health outcomes, providing evidence that investing in education can have a profound impact on individual and population health. It underscores the need for global efforts to ensure access to education, especially in regions where educational opportunities are limited.
The findings also serve as a wake-up call for policymakers and healthcare professionals to prioritize education as a fundamental pillar of public health strategies. By focusing on reducing educational disparities, countries can make significant progress in narrowing the gap in mortality rates and improving overall population health.
As individuals, we should recognize the immense value of education not only for personal growth and career advancement but also for our long-term health and well-being. Whether it’s completing primary school, secondary school, or pursuing higher education, each step in the educational journey contributes to a significant reduction in mortality risk.
In conclusion, education is not just about acquiring knowledge; it is a powerful determinant of our life expectancy and overall quality of life. Investing in education is an investment in our future, with far-reaching benefits that extend beyond the classroom. Let us prioritize education as a tool for building healthier and more equitable societies worldwide.
