Educational inequalities in disability among older adults: a trend analysis in 15 European countries (2002 to 2023)

The aim of this study was to examine the magnitude and trends of educational inequalities in disability among older men and women (≥ 60 years) in 15 European countries. We used data of 11 waves of the European Social Survey (ESS, 2002 to 2023, N = 98,300). Disability was assessed by a variant of the Global Activity Limitation Indicator. In the latest wave of the ESS (2023), there was an educational gradient in the prevalence of disability in the 15 European countries. In terms of time trends among men, disability significantly declined in high education groups in ten countries while it increased among those with low education in three countries. Trends in prevalence were quite different among women. There was a significant decline among low as well as high education groups in five countries and prevalences were stable in eight countries. Overall, among men, there was a significant increase of inequalities in disability between low and high educational groups from 2002 to 2023, while this trend was not significant among women. The mechanisms behind these inequalities in disability are not yet fully understood. Future studies should investigate to what extent behavioural, psychosocial, and material factors contribute to their explanation. A better understanding of these explanatory factors is needed to develop and implement interventions for a reduction of inequalities in disability in aging societies.