Race, ethnicity, and the education gradient in health

Using pooled data from the 2000-2006 National Health Interview Survey, we document how the relationship between education and a broad range of health measures varies by race/ethnicity and nativity. We found that education is a more powerful determinant of health behaviors and outcomes for some groups than it is for others. In addition, the education differentials for foreign-born groups are typically more modest than those for corresponding native-born populations. We also show how the education-health relationship varies across Hispanic and Asian subgroups. We argue that any intervention for eliminating health disparities must take these patterns into account.