Abstract :
Introduction and methods This study investigated the
relationship between health-related quality of life (QoL),
educational level and culture, using a high quality crosscultural
generic measure (WHOQOL-BREF) containing 25
international dimensions organised in physical, psychological,
social and environmental domains.
Results Cross-cultural data from 9,404 sick and well
adults in 13 countries showed that environmental QoL
increased positively and sequentially from no education to
tertiary education. The other three domains increased only
up to secondary school level. These MANCOVA results
were significantly influenced by health status, age, culture
and economic development level. More positive feelings,
less dependence on medication and treatment, better perceptions
of financial resources, physical environment, and
opportunities for information and skills, represent adult
QoL advantages to those who received tertiary education
compared with secondary schooling. Developing countries
reported poorer environmental, psychological and physical
QoL than developed countries, although social QoL was
good, and no different for the two development bands.
Only psychological QoL distinguished between every
educational level, in developing countries. Increased positive
feelings serve to link better mental health with more
education. Across each domain, secondary and tertiary
education was associated with better QoL in developing
countries.
Conclusion The results support a QoL case for universal
secondary education on which better health and health care
may be built
