Markus H. Schafer|Lindsay R. Wilkinson|Kenneth F. Ferraro
Childhood (Mis)fortune, Educational Attainment, and Adult Health: Contingent Benefits of a College Degree?
University of Toronto|Purdue University System|Purdue University System
collegeeducated adults healthier people united states selection bias complicates understanding education influences health article focuses possibility health benefits college may vary according childhood misfortune peoples propensity attain college degree first place several perspectives life course sociology offer competing hypotheses whether least advantaged see greatest return college education authors use national survey middleage american adults assess risk two cardiovascular health problems mortality results propensity score hierarchical regression analysis indicate protective effect college attainment indeed heterogeneous greatest returns among least likely experience life course transition ie compensatory leveling explanations selection effect offered along several directions future research health benefits completing college