Affiliations: National Institute for Working Life, SE-113 91
Stockholm, Sweden | The Karolinska Institute, SE-112 94 Stockholm,
Sweden
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Raymond Dahlberg, National Institute
for Working Life, SE-113 91 Stockholm, Sweden. Tel.: +46 8 619 68 21; Fax: +46
8 619 68 05; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Objective: To compare health and exposures at work and at home of
women and men with the same educational background. Methods: The study group consisted of 3831 individuals, grouped into
three educational categories based on length of education. Category 1, which
represents 9-year compulsory school; Category 2, which includes 3-year upper
secondary school, i.e. in total 12 years of education; and Category 3, which
includes post-secondary school, such as university. They responded to a
questionnaire that included questions on health and exposures at work and at
home. Results: Significant differences were shown in health outcomes
between women and men with the same educational background and also in
exposures in their professional and private lives. Associations between
educational background and health were found and analyses revealed that men
with a university education run the lowest risk of developing ill health. Conclusion: Women with the same educational background as men are
differently exposed, both in paid and unpaid work, due to the segregated labour
market and the unequal distribution of domestic duties. Men in all educational
categories studied had better health compared to women with the same
educational background.
