Educational background: different processes and consequences on health and physical and mental exposures among women and men.
OBJECTIVE
To compare health and exposures at work and at home of women and men with the same educational background.


METHODS
The study group consisted of 3831 individuals, grouped into three educational categories based on length of education. Category 1, which represents 9-year compulsory school; Category 2, which includes 3-year upper secondary school, i.e. in total 12 years of education; and Category 3, which includes post-secondary school, such as university. They responded to a questionnaire that included questions on health and exposures at work and at home.


RESULTS
Significant differences were shown in health outcomes between women and men with the same educational background and also in exposures in their professional and private lives. Associations between educational background and health were found and analyses revealed that men with a university education run the lowest risk of developing ill health.


CONCLUSIONS
Women with the same educational background as men are differently exposed, both in paid and unpaid work, due to the segregated labour market and the unequal distribution of domestic duties. Men in all educational categories studied had better health compared to women with the same educational background.
Dahlberg
Raymond
R
National Institute for Working Life, SE-113 91 Stockholm, Sweden. raymond.dahlberg@arbetslivsinstitutet.se
Bildt
Carina
C
Vingård
Eva
E
Karlqvist
Lena
L
D000328:Adult; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology