- A recent study reveals a direct link between education and life expectancy, suggesting that each year spent in school or university positively impacts longevity.
- Risk Reduction: The research, combining evidence from various countries, demonstrates a 2% decrease in an adult’s risk of mortality for each year of full-time education.
- Health Benefits: Completing primary, secondary, and tertiary education is found to be equivalent to a lifetime of maintaining a healthy diet, resulting in a 34% reduction in the risk of death compared to those with no formal education.
- Alarming Comparison: On the flip side, not attending school at any point is shown to have health repercussions akin to heavy drinking or smoking.
- Policy Implications: The study lends support to ongoing efforts to ensure children stay in school, emphasizing the connection between school attendance and health.
- Potential for Longer Life: Increasing the school leaving age and promoting higher education could potentially contribute to extended life expectancy in the future.
- First-of-its-kind Analysis: While the positive impact of education on life expectancy has been recognized, this study is the first to quantify the number of years of education and its direct link to mortality reduction.
- Cautionary Notes: Despite the positive findings, caution is advised due to recent changes in education and societal factors that may influence the observed associations.
- Global Inequalities: The research, supported by the Norwegian government’s research fund and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, advocates for increased investment in education as a means to reduce global disparities in death rates.
- Universal Impact: The study finds that the positive effects of education on longevity are consistent across rich and poor countries, irrespective of demographic factors.
- Beyond Health: Education is not only associated with health benefits but also plays a role in building social connections, empowering individuals, and improving access to information and resources.
- Challenges Ahead: Concerns are raised about potential challenges such as increased rates of school absence and inequalities in the labour market, emphasizing the need for comprehensive solutions.
- Conclusion: The study concludes that education is vital for its intrinsic merits, and quantifying its impact on health provides a significant perspective on the overall benefits it brings.
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