Four Social Factors That Influence Your Lifespan

By Adebowale Bello. Freelance Health Writer. Medically reviewed by the DLHA Team.

Elderly black couple with happy and healthy expression. Image credit: Freepik

The fact that education, marriage, gender and race all influence lifespan means that improving health in African countries requires more than just medical care.

It’s easy to think that how long we live is determined by our genes or how well we take care of ourselves but recent research shows that our social environment plays a big role too.

A study from the United States has highlighted how four social factors - marriage, gender, education and race - can influence our lifespan. The findings from the study are not just relevant for Americans; they offer important lessons for Africans as well.

Researchers analyzed data from the U.S population to see how these four factors combine to affect life expectancy. They discovered that there can be a huge difference - up to 18 years - between the lifespans of people in the different social groups.

For example, a white man with only a high school education who never marries might live to 67, in contrast, a white married woman with a university degree could live to 85. These differences highlight how social factors can either lengthen or shorten our lives.

Education plays a significant role in how long people live. Generally, those with higher education levels live longer. In the study, having a university degree added nearly four years to a person’s life expectancy. However, education alone isn’t enough. For example, a single man with a university degree might still have a lower life expectancy than a less-educated married woman. 

Marriage was found to also add about five years to a person’s life expectancy especially for men, suggesting that the social and emotional support it offers can help people live longer.

Your race also influences your lifespan as the study found that certain causes of death such as suicide and lung cancer are more common among white people while others, like liver disease, affect more Hispanic people. Black people, on the other hand, face higher risks from major causes of death like heart disease and diabetes which can lead to shorter lifespans.

Further, the study confirmed what many already know - women generally live longer than men. This is true across almost all social groups except in cases involving certain diseases like some cancers and Alzheimer’s. The reasons for women’s longer lifespans are complex but the study suggests that social factors like marriage and education can help close the gap for men.

While this study was conducted in the U.S, its findings have important implications for Africa. The fact that education, marriage, gender and race all influence lifespan means that improving health in African countries requires more than just medical care. We need to look at the broader social environment and address issues like education and social support.

For example, investing in education could have a huge impact on public health across the continent. Similarly, recognizing the protective effects of marriage and community support could help African governments and public health managers develop more effective health programs.

Wrap Up

This research shows that our social environment plays a big role in determining how long we live. While we can’t change some aspects of our background, understanding these influences can help us make better choices and advocate for policies that promote better health for everyone.

In Africa, where social connections and community support are already strong, these findings suggest that the existing solid social foundation can be taken advantage of, to promote healthier people and communities across the continent. By focusing on improving education, supporting marriages and families and addressing health inequalities, African governments and other stakeholders can help ensure better health and improved life expectancy for people on the continent.

Source:

Bergeron-Boucher M, Callaway J, Strozza C, et alInequalities in lifespan and mortality risk in the US, 2015–2019: a cross-sectional analysis of subpopulations by social determinants of health. BMJ Open 2024;14:e079534. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-079534. Available from here.

Related:

Social Factors Shaping African Women’s Health

The More Education You Have, The Longer You Live; Study Says

Published: August 16, 2024

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