Higher educational attainment is associated with longer telomeres in midlife: Evidence from sibling comparisons in the UK Biobank

AbstractObjectiveWomen of lower educational attainment have less balanced and varied diets than women of higher educational attainment. The diets of women are vital to the long-term health of their offspring. The present study aimed to identify factors that influence the food choices of women with lower educational attainment and how women could be helped to improve those choices.DesignWe conducted eight focus group discussions with women of lower educational attainment to identify these factors. We contrasted the results of these discussions with those from three focus group discussions with women of higher educational attainment.SettingSouthampton, UK.SubjectsForty-two white Caucasian women of lower educational attainment and fourteen of higher educational attainment aged 18 to 44 years.ResultsThe dominant theme in discussions with women of lower educational attainment was their sense that they lacked control over food choices for themselves and their families. Partners and children exerted a high degree of control over which foods were bought and prepared. Women’s perceptions of the cost of healthy food, the need to avoid waste, being trapped at home surrounded by opportunities to snack, and having limited skill and experience with food, all contributed to their sense they lacked control over their own and their family’s food choices.ConclusionsAn intervention to improve the food choices of women with lower educational attainment needs to increase their sense of control over their diet and the foods they buy. This might include increasing their skills in food preparation.

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Higher educational attainment associated with reduced likelihood of abnormal cervical lesions among Zambian women - a cross sectional study

BMC Cancer ◽

10.1186/s12885-017-3680-z ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Twaambo Euphemia Hamoonga ◽

Rosemary Ndonyo Likwa ◽

Patrick Musonda ◽

Charles Michelo

Keyword(s):

Educational Attainment ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cervical Lesions ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Higher Educational ◽

Higher Educational Attainment

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Abstract 031: Socioeconomic Trajectories Across the Life Course and Risk of All-cause and Cardiovascular Mortality: Prospective Findings From the Moli-sani Study

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.137.suppl_1.031 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 137 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Marialaura Bonaccio ◽

Augusto Di Castelnuovo ◽

Simona Costanzo ◽

Mariarosaria Persichillo ◽

Chiara Cerletti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

General Population ◽

Educational Attainment ◽

Life Course ◽

Lower Risk ◽

Cox Regression ◽

Low Ses ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Higher Educational ◽

Higher Educational Attainment ◽

The Life Course

Introduction: A life course approach has been suggested as the most appropriated to establish the actual impact of socioeconomic status (SES) on health outcomes. Hypothesis: We assessed the hypothesis that SES trajectories from childhood to adulthood are useful to better evaluate the role of SES towards mortality risk in a large general population-based cohort. Methods: Longitudinal analysis on 22,194 subjects recruited in the general population of the Moli-sani study, Italy (2005-2010). Educational attainment (low/high) and SES in adulthood (measured by a score including occupational social class, housing and overcrowding, and dichotomized as low/high) were used to define four possible trajectories both in low and high SES in childhood (age of 8). Hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were calculated by multivariable Cox regression and competing risk models. Results: Over a median follow-up of 8.3 years (182,924 person-years), 1155 all-cause, of which 414 cardiovascular (CVD), deaths were ascertained. In the group with low SES in childhood, as opposed to those stably low (low education and low SES in adulthood), an upward in both educational attainment and material factors in adulthood was associated with lower risk of both all-cause (HR=0.64; 95%CI 0.52-0.79; Table) and CVD mortality (HR=0.62; 0.43-0.88), respectively. Subjects with high childhood SES experienced an increased risk of total and CVD death in absence of higher educational attainment despite a higher SES in adulthood (HR=1.47; 1.04-2.07 and HR=1.75;1.00-3.05, respectively) as compared to the group with both high education and high SES in adulthood. Conclusions: In conclusion, for individuals with low SES in childhood, an upward of both educational attainment and material factors over the life course is associated with lower risk of total and CVD death. In advantaged groups in childhood, lack of a higher educational attainment, rather than material factors, over the life course appears to be unfavourably associated with survival.

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Health behaviours reported by adults with congenital heart disease across 15 countries

European Journal of Preventive Cardiology ◽

10.1177/2047487319876231 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 27 (10) ◽

pp. 1077-1087 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Christina E Holbein ◽

James Peugh ◽

Gruschen R Veldtman ◽

Silke Apers ◽

Koen Luyckx ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Congenital Heart Disease ◽

Heart Disease ◽

Educational Attainment ◽

Health Behaviour ◽

Congenital Heart ◽

Health Behaviours ◽

Self Report ◽

Optimal Health ◽

Higher Educational ◽

Higher Educational Attainment

Background Health behaviours are essential to maintain optimal health and reduce the risk of cardiovascular complications in adults with congenital heart disease. This study aimed to describe health behaviours in adults with congenital heart disease in 15 countries and to identify patient characteristics associated with optimal health behaviours in the international sample. Design This was a cross-sectional observational study. Methods Adults with congenital heart disease ( n = 4028, median age = 32 years, interquartile range 25–42 years) completed self-report measures as part of the Assessment of Patterns of Patient-Reported Outcomes in Adults with Congenital Heart disease - International Study (APPROACH-IS). Participants reported on seven health behaviours using the Health Behaviors Scale-Congenital Heart Disease. Demographic and medical characteristics were assessed via medical chart review and self-report. Multivariate path analyses with inverse sampling weights were used to investigate study aims. Results Health behaviour rates for the full sample were 10% binge drinking, 12% cigarette smoking, 6% recreational drug use, 72% annual dental visit, 69% twice daily tooth brushing, 27% daily dental flossing and 43% sport participation. Pairwise comparisons indicated that rates differed between countries. Rates of substance use behaviours were higher in younger, male participants. Optimal dental health behaviours were more common among older, female participants with higher educational attainment while sports participation was more frequent among participants who were younger, male, married, employed/students, with higher educational attainment, less complex anatomical defects and better functional status. Conclusions Health behaviour rates vary by country. Predictors of health behaviours may reflect larger geographic trends. Our findings have implications for the development and implementation of programmes for the assessment and promotion of optimal health behaviours in adults with congenital heart disease.

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State fragility and transparency

International Journal of Development Issues ◽

10.1108/ijdi-06-2016-0034 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 15 (3) ◽

pp. 202-223 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Nabamita Dutta ◽

Sanjukta Roy

Keyword(s):

Public Policy ◽

Educational Attainment ◽

Robust Estimation ◽

Lower State ◽

Content Type ◽

State Fragility ◽

Basic Functions ◽

Higher Educational ◽

Higher Educational Attainment ◽

The Relationship

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to test the relationship between state fragility and transparency. A state is deemed fragile when it falters in its ability to manage conflict and in its capacity to deliver basic functions and implement public policy. Although minimizing fragility of the state is undoubtedly an integral component of economic development, there is a huge variation across countries in terms of where they stand with regard to fragility. Further, it also explores how educational attainment affects the relationship between state fragility and transparency. Design/methodology/approach Using several robust estimation methodologies and a relatively new database on transparency, the authors find that higher levels of transparency lower state fragility. They reply on fixed effect estimators, lagged one period and five periods and system GMM estimators as part of our identification strategy. Findings Using several robust estimation methodologies and a relatively new database on transparency, the authors find that a higher level of transparency lowers state fragility. Greater and free flow of information empowers the populace, restores trust in government, increases participation in the political arena and, thus, reduces state fragility. This paper additionally shows that higher educational attainment helps reap the benefits of transparency even more and, thus, catalyzes transparency to lower-state fragility more effectively. Research limitations/implications Our research shows that greater transparency leads to lower state fragility. Additionally, if the populace of the country has higher educational attainment, the benefits of transparency in reducing state fragility is enhanced. Although enhancing transparency amid high state fragility may be a challenging task, it can be achieved by providing the populace with better media access via internet and cell phones. Originality/value The authors use a relatively new database of transparency to show that transparency acts as an important determinant of state fragility. A state is deemed fragile when it falters in its ability to manage conflict and in its capacity to deliver basic functions and implement public policy. Given this definition, it is needless to say that what can affect state fragility and how can such fragility be lowered is an important research agenda. This paper aims to fill this gap. Additionally, it shows the importance of education while exploring such a relationship.

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