Double jeopardy: health-protective effects of educational attainment are stronger in deprived neighbourhoods

Summary

This study quantifies the relative contributions of educational attainment and the immediate social and physical environment to self-reported health. Using mixed-effects ordered logistic regression models applied to the Understanding Society dataset (2010-2023), we find that both educational attainment and neighbourhood deprivation levels are strongly and independently associated with self-reported health. The interaction analysis suggests that the health returns to education are greatest in more deprived neighbourhoods and that individual-level and neighbourhood-level resources can compensate for the absence of one another. These findings underscore the importance of addressing both individual-level and neighbourhood-level socioeconomic factors to reduce health inequalities.