Educational Attainment and Mortality Differentials

There is a well-established literature discussing the association between education and mortality. Explanations for this association are organized into three broad categories: social structural conditions, health lifestyles, and social psychological resources. This entry summarizes the broad literature on education and mortality and assesses the impacts of social and economic stratification on mortality related to chronic diseases, HIV/AIDS, suicide, infant and childhood conditions, and overall health quality. Multiple aspects of stratification contributing to the link between education and mortality are discussed, including: race/ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, marital status, and neighborhood context. The entry concludes with a discussion of policy implications.