People having higher education comparatively healthier

Finland’s recent research results, the inequalities in health, functional capacity, and lifestyles between education groups have not been narrowed in the 2000s, according to Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).

The majority of the indicators show that the differences have remained unchanged. For a few indicators, the differences between the lowest and the highest education groups seem to have even increased from 2000 to 2017, said the THL in a press release on Friday.

As for leisure time physical activity and daily smoking, the differences between educational groups have increased. An increasing number of people in the lowest education group did not engage in physical activity in their free time.

More and more highly educated people have reduced their smoking. While, in the lowest education group, the share of daily smokers has not significantly decreased.

"The increase in differences between education groups in physical activity and smoking, is also worrying in terms of the development of health inequalities. These lifestyles are linked to many illnesses and functional capacity limitations. Additionally, it is important to assess the impacts the measures to limit the coronavirus epidemic has had on the lifestyles of education groups – new research results regarding this will be published in the near future ", said Päivikki Koponen, Chief Specialist at THL.

According to nearly all variables, the health and functional capacity of those in the lower education group, were weaker compared to those in higher education group. Furthermore, the lifestyles of the people with lower education were worse in terms of health, in both the 2000 and 2017 studies.

For example, in 2017, less than a quarter of those with a high level of education felt that their health was poor or moderate. In the lowest education group, the corresponding share was more than 40 per cent.

The differences between different educational groups were most obvious in half a kilometre’s walk difficulties, reduced work ability, and daily smoking, for both men and women. The only variable, where there were no significant differences between educational groups, was psychological distress.