Can universal pre-kindergarten programs improve population health and longevity? Mechanisms, evidence, and policy implications

Peter Muennig

Social Science & Medicine, 2015, vol. 127, issue C, 116-123

Abstract: Recent research has found that children who attended pre-kindergarten programs in childhood were more likely to be healthy as adults. One intuitive way of improving population health and longevity may therefore be to invest in pre-kindergarten programs. However, much of the research linking pre-kindergarten programs to health is very recent and has not been synthesized. In this paper, I review the mechanisms linking pre-kindergarten programs in childhood to adult longevity, and the experimental evidence backing up these linkages. I conclude with a critical exploration of whether investments in pre-kindergarten programs could also serve as investments in public health.

Keywords: Educational attainment and health; Socioeconomic disparities and health; Health policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:socmed:v:127:y:2015:i:c:p:116-123

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DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2014.08.033

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