Education Inequalities in Health Among Older European Men and Women: The Role of Active Aging

OBJECTIVE: We assessed whether education inequalities in health among older people can be partially explained by different levels of active aging among educational groups. METHOD: We applied logistic regression and the Karlson, Holm, & Breen (KHB) decomposition method using the 2010 and 2012 waves of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe on individuals aged 50+ years ( N = 27,579). Active aging included social participation, paid work, and provision of grandchild care. Health was measured by good self-perceived health, low number of depressive symptoms, and absence of limitations because of health in activities people usually do. RESULTS: We found a positive educational gradient for each of the three health measures. Up to a third of the health gaps between high and low educated were associated with differences in engagement in active aging activities. DISCUSSION: Policies devoted at stimulating an active participation in society among older people should be particularly focused on lower educated groups.