Lack of education has proven to be a powerful predictor of poor health and early death. However, a recent study conducted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison has shown that psychological wellbeing is powerful enough to outweigh this prediction.
This means that those with limited education (a high school diploma or less) who feel good about themselves and their lives are likely to be just as healthy or more healthy than their better-educated peers.
Positive psychological characteristics such as having a sense of purpose and meaningful relationships are strongly correlated with lower levels of a dangerous, inflammatory protein. This protein is related to many potentially deadly health issues such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and some cancers. Psychological wellbeing moderates levels of this protein in the body.
Researchers found that less-educated participants who scored high on general happiness or self-acceptance measures or considered the circumstances in their lives to be manageable, showed levels of the protein which were comparable to similarly content, but highly-educated participants.
Attentive parents, strong role models, and feeling involved and important to one’s community are strong contributors to positive psychological characteristics.
Co-author of the study, Carol Ryff, says these results are significant because they offer “a new angle on eliminating the wide gap in overall health between the well-to-do and the socioeconomically disadvantaged.”
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