Educational inequalities in mental health expectancy. Analysis based on registry data and survey data from the Danish National Health Survey

Objective

Social inequality in life expectancy (LE) and various indicators of health expectancy have received much attention. Mental health expectancy (MHE) has received less attention, although research has shown an increasing prevalence of poor mental health. We aimed to investigate educational differentials in LE in relation to good, moderate, and poor mental health. 

Methods

Nationwide registry data on education and mortality were linked and combined with data from the Danish National Health Survey for 2017 and 2021 on mental health and education. The sample group consisted of data on Danes aged 30 and over. MHE was estimated by Sullivan’s method. 

Results

From 2017 to 2021, a general decline in the MHE of Danes was observed. Furthermore, the educational inequality in MHE remained substantial between genders, and was larger than the inequality in LE. Changes in MHE differed across educational groups. For Danes with short education, good MHE tended to increase for men, while the increase was statistically significant among women. 

Conclusions

MHE is associated with educational attainment. Despite the observed changes in educational differential, substantial inequality persists, raising important questions about the underlying causes of social disparity in MHE.