IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/socmed/v367y2025ics0277953625000395.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Structural racism and diminished health returns on education among Palestinian refugees in Lebanon

Author

Listed:
  • Abdulrahim, Sawsan
  • Kunichoff, Dennis
  • Asi, Yara
  • Bahour, Nadine
  • Hammoudeh, Weeam
  • Mills, David
  • Tanous, Osama
  • Wispelwey, Bram
  • Bassett, Mary T.

Abstract

Drawing on structural racism, eco-social, and weathering theories, we examined whether the association between education and health is diminished among Palestinian refugees in Lebanon (PRL) who live under conditions of structural gendered racism. The study utilized data from a national household survey of PRL conducted by a humanitarian organization in December 2022. In a subsample of 7872 PRL 18 years and older, we assessed the association between education and diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Adjusted risk-ratios (aRR) were calculated to compare the proportions of the outcomes between each gender and education group of interest, adjusting for age, area of residence, and self-reported socioeconomic status. Analyses were conducted on the entire sample and a subsample of those 55 years and older.

Suggested Citation

  • Abdulrahim, Sawsan & Kunichoff, Dennis & Asi, Yara & Bahour, Nadine & Hammoudeh, Weeam & Mills, David & Tanous, Osama & Wispelwey, Bram & Bassett, Mary T., 2025. "Structural racism and diminished health returns on education among Palestinian refugees in Lebanon," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 367(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:367:y:2025:i:c:s0277953625000395
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.117710
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953625000395
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.117710?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Viruell-Fuentes, Edna A. & Miranda, Patricia Y. & Abdulrahim, Sawsan, 2012. "More than culture: Structural racism, intersectionality theory, and immigrant health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 75(12), pages 2099-2106.
    2. David M. Cutler & Adriana Lleras-Muney, 2006. "Education and Health: Evaluating Theories and Evidence," NBER Working Papers 12352, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. Gkiouleka, Anna & Huijts, Tim & Beckfield, Jason & Bambra, Clare, 2018. "Understanding the micro and macro politics of health: Inequalities, intersectionality & institutions - A research agenda," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 200(C), pages 92-98.
    4. repec:sae:mrxval:v:38:y:2004:i:2:p:470-492 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Krieger, N., 2012. "Methods for the scientific study of discrimination and health: An ecosocial approach," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 102(5), pages 936-945.
    6. Samari, Goleen & Wurtz, Heather M. & Abularrage, Tara F. & Sharif, Mienah Z., 2024. "Structural gendered racism as conceptualized by immigrant women in the United States," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 351(S1).
    7. Homan, Patricia, 2024. "Health consequences of structural sexism: Conceptual foundations, empirical evidence and priorities for future research," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 351(S1).
    8. Matthews, Sharon & Manor, Orly & Power, Chris, 1999. "Social inequalities in health: are there gender differences?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 48(1), pages 49-60, January.
    9. Ross, Catherine E. & Mirowsky, John, 2006. "Sex differences in the effect of education on depression: Resource multiplication or resource substitution?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 63(5), pages 1400-1413, September.
    10. Hala Ghattas & AnnieBelle J Sassine & Karin Seyfert & Mark Nord & Nadine R Sahyoun, 2015. "Prevalence and Correlates of Food Insecurity among Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon: Data from a Household Survey," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(6), pages 1-10, June.
    11. Catherine Ross & Ryan Masters & Robert Hummer, 2012. "Education and the Gender Gaps in Health and Mortality," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 49(4), pages 1157-1183, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Anna Zajacova & Katrina Walsemann & Jennifer Dowd, 2015. "The Long Arm of Adolescent Health Among Men and Women: Does Attained Status Explain Its Association with Mid-Adulthood Health?," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 34(1), pages 19-48, February.
    2. Jennifer Karas Montez & Kaitlyn Barnes, 2016. "The Benefits of Educational Attainment for U.S. Adult Mortality: Are they Contingent on the Broader Environment?," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 35(1), pages 73-100, February.
    3. Bahadır Dursun & Resul Cesur, 2016. "Transforming lives: the impact of compulsory schooling on hope and happiness," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 29(3), pages 911-956, July.
    4. Terrence D. Hill & Jason A. Ford & Harvey L. Nicholson, 2022. "Education and polypharmacy: A national study of racial and ethnic variations," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 103(7), pages 1687-1705, December.
    5. Sabo, Samantha & Shaw, Susan & Ingram, Maia & Teufel-Shone, Nicolette & Carvajal, Scott & de Zapien, Jill Guernsey & Rosales, Cecilia & Redondo, Flor & Garcia, Gina & Rubio-Goldsmith, Raquel, 2014. "Everyday violence, structural racism and mistreatment at the US–Mexico border," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 66-74.
    6. Matthew A. Andersson & Vida Maralani & Renae Wilkinson, 2022. "Origins and Destinations, but How Much and When? Educational Disparities in Smoking and Drinking Across Adolescence and Young Adulthood," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 41(2), pages 521-558, April.
    7. Sara Pinillos-Franco & Carmen García-Prieto, 2017. "The gender gap in self-rated health and education in Spain. A multilevel analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(12), pages 1-11, December.
    8. Hicken, Margaret T. & Kravitz-Wirtz, Nicole & Durkee, Myles & Jackson, James S., 2018. "Racial inequalities in health: Framing future research," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 199(C), pages 11-18.
    9. Gkiouleka, Anna & Huijts, Tim, 2020. "Intersectional migration-related health inequalities in Europe: Exploring the role of migrant generation, occupational status & gender," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 267(C).
    10. Catherine Ross & Ryan Masters & Robert Hummer, 2012. "Education and the Gender Gaps in Health and Mortality," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 49(4), pages 1157-1183, November.
    11. Asad, Asad L. & Clair, Matthew, 2018. "Racialized legal status as a social determinant of health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 199(C), pages 19-28.
    12. Fagrell Trygg, Nadja & Månsdotter, Anna & Gustafsson, Per E., 2021. "Intersectional inequalities in mental health across multiple dimensions of inequality in the Swedish adult population," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    13. Lamu, Admassu N. & Chen, Gang & Olsen, Jan Abel, 2023. "Amplified disparities: The association between spousal education and own health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 323(C).
    14. Ettinger de Cuba, Stephanie & Jones, David K. & Cutts, Diana & Bovell-Ammon, Allison & Lê-Scherban, Félice & Sandel, Megan & Ochoa, Eduardo & Poblacion, Ana & Frank, Deborah A. & Black, Maureen M. & F, 2025. "“But who takes care of the mom?”: The daily experiences of immigrant mothers navigating health in family life," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 372(C).
    15. Akanksha Choudhary & Ashish Singh, 2018. "Effect of intergenerational educational mobility on health of Indian women," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(9), pages 1-16, September.
    16. Christopher J. Holmes & Anna Zajacova, 2014. "Education as “the Great Equalizer”: Health Benefits for Black and White Adults," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 95(4), pages 1064-1085, December.
    17. Cohen, Alison K. & Rehkopf, David H. & Deardorff, Julianna & Abrams, Barbara, 2013. "Education and obesity at age 40 among American adults," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 34-41.
    18. Raj, Anita & Barr, Elizabeth & Griffith, Derek M., 2024. "Gender, power, and health: Modifiable factors and opportunities for intervention," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 351(S1).
    19. Dustin Brown & Robert Hummer & Mark Hayward, 2014. "The Importance of Spousal Education for the Self-Rated Health of Married Adults in the United States," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 33(1), pages 127-151, February.
    20. Amanda Godoy-Bermúdez & Araceli Rojo-Gallego-Burin & Luisa Delgado-Márquez & José J Martín-Martín & M Teresa Sánchez-Martínez & M Puerto López del Amo-González, 2023. "Variation in perceived health across gender, working status, educational level, and regional health care expenditure in Spain (2014–2017)," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 18(7), pages 1-20, July.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:367:y:2025:i:c:s0277953625000395. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/315/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.