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How do activity limitations differ by educational level?
People age 18 and over who have completed 8 years or fewer of school are more likely to have activity limitations than are people with more education. In fact, the higher the educational level, the less likely one is to be limited in activity; 61.6% of the 16.4 million people with 8 years or less education are not limited in activity, compared to 88.5% of the 32.8 million people with 16 years or more education. The pattern of increasing limitations for people with lower levels of education holds for persons limited in nonmajor activity (5.3% to 10.0%), those limited in kind or amount of major activity (3.9% to 11.9%), and those unable to perform major activity (2.3% to 16.5%).
Technical Note: It should be noted that higher levels of education may place someone in a desk job that is less likely to pose an on-the-job hazard. It should also be noted that older people, who have higher rates of limitations, also have lower amounts of education, and were more likely to have physically dangerous occupations than today's adult.
People with lower education levels report higher levels of activity limitations.
Graphic: Bar chart.
Source: LaPlante, 1996
Survey: NHIS, 1992