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

Publication type

Journal Article

Authors

Publication date

November 15, 2026

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.

Published in

Social Science & Medicine

Volume

Volume: 408:119722

ISSN

2779536

Subjects

Notes

© 2026 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Open Access

Under a Creative Commons license

#589183

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