Youth Indicators, 2005: Trends in the Well-Being of American Youth

Indicator 44: General Health

Figure 44. Percentage of persons 18 years and older who reported being in excellent or very good health, by educational attainment and age group: 2002

Percentage of persons 18 years and older who reported being in excellent or very good health, by educational attainment and age group: 2002

^†Not applicable.
¹Includes respondents who did not report educational attainment.
NOTE: Includes those who responded 'excellent' or 'very good' on a scale of 'excellent,' 'very good,' 'good,' 'fair,' and 'poor.'
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Interview Survey, 2002, previously unpublished tabulations.

Young adults ages 18 to 24 years were more likely to report being in very good or excellent health than all persons 25 years old and over; however there was no measurable difference between 18- to 24-year-olds and 25- to 34-year-olds with regard to the proportion who reported very good or excellent health. As educational attainment increases reports of very good or excellent health increases for every age group (18 to 24 and 25 and over). In 2002, 18- to 24-year-olds who completed a bachelor's degree or higher were more likely to report being in good or excellent health than peers with lower levels of educational attainment. In general, males 18 to 24 were more likely to report very good or excellent health than their female counterparts.

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