Life span
About
Life span is the period between birth and death
Relationship to health and equity
Lifespan measures how long people live. We investigate length of life among population groups to understand differences in health outcomes and to reveal early, avoidable deaths. Community conditions influence how long people live. For example, people live longer when they have access to good jobs, nutritious foods, support from friends and family, quality medical care and a clean environment. In the late 19th century, public health interventions in sanitation and water dramatically increased lifespans. Other public health efforts like vaccinations, seat belts and tobacco control have continued to increase lifespan.
Lifespan in the U.S. varies by race and ethnicity, place and income. For example, historical and current policies disproportionately resulted in marginalized and racialized people being exposed to air pollution, having unstable housing and living in neighborhoods perceived as unsafe, which reduce lifespan.
Relationship to systems and structures
How we create and maintain structures and systems impacts lifespan. Institutional practices such as companies paying women, and especially women of color, less than their male counterparts and health insurance companies denying valid medical claims to increase profits can inequitably shorten lifespan. Effective and fully implemented laws that regulate food quality, pharmaceutical approval, workplace safety and environmental monitoring all protect the health of humans, the land and animals - and increase lifespan.
People and organizations who wield power through policies and practices often uphold systems that impact lifespan. For example, the Social Security Administration hasn’t updated its limits on how much savings a disabled person can have and still qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) cash assistance benefits for over 40 years. A savings limit that does not reflect current economic realities contributes to high poverty rates among people who are disabled and harms those who are most marginalized.
Additional Reading
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (1999). Ten great public health achievements – United States, 1900-1999. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. MMWR 48(12), 241-243. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00056796.htm
- Lelieveld, J., Pozzer, A., Pöschl, U., Fnais, M., Haines, A., & Münzel, T. (2020). Loss of life expectancy from air pollution compared to other risk factors: A worldwide perspective. Cardiovascular Research, 116(11), 1910-1917. https://doi.org/10.1093/cvr/cvaa025
- Bishu, S.G., & Alkadry, M.G. (2017). A systematic review of the gender pay gap and the factors that predict it. Administration & Society 49(1), 65-104. https://doi.org/10.1177/0095399716636928
- Ferrante, D., & Carty, T. (2024). Seven ways federal policymakers can improve the lives of disabled people. Urban Institute. https://www.urban.org/urban-wire/seven-ways-federal-policymakers-can-improve-lives-disabled-people