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A new study by CUNY SPH and Columbia researchers found that higher educational attainment was associated with lower all-cause mortality among both white and Black U.S. adults. However, Black adults continue to experience higher mortality than white adults at the same levels of education, suggesting that educational attainment alone does not eliminate racial disparities in mortality.
The research team, led by CUNY SPH doctoral alum Dr. Hanish Kodali and Distinguished Professor Luisa N. Borrell analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey linked to mortality records. While white adults with less than a high school education had more than twice the mortality risk of white adults with more than a high school education, Black adults faced higher mortality rates at each level of education than their white counterparts.
This study also examined whether telomere length, a biomarker of cellular aging, could explain these patterns. The study found no evidence that telomere length mediates the association of race/ethnicity and education with mortality, suggesting that other biological, social, or structural pathways may play a role in explaining this association.
“Our findings suggest that while educational attainment is an important determinant of health, it is unlikely to fully explain persistent racial inequities in mortality,” says Dr. Kodali. “Identifying the mechanisms underlying these inequities remains an important area for future research.”
