Sze Yan Liu|Stephen L. Buka|Crystal D. Linkletter|Ichiro Kawachi|Laura D. Kubzansky|Eric B. Loucks
The Association Between Blood Pressure and Years of Schooling Versus Educational Credentials: Test of the Sheepskin Effect
Providence College|Harvard University|Providence College|Harvard University|Providence College|Harvard University|Harvard University|Providence College
attaining degree may offer greater opportunities health years schooling alone study examines whether degree sheepskin effect association education blood pressure multivariableadjusted ordinal linear regression models assessed associations years schooling degree attainment systolic diastolic blood pressure sample 552 adults ages 38 47 years years schooling inversely associated systolic blood pressure adjusting age gender race 04 95 confidence limit 07 01 mmhg systolic blood pressureyear schooling additional adjustment mothers education childhood verbal intelligence quotient childhood health childhood socioeconomic status minimal impact effect size 03 95 confidence limit 07 00 however years schooling longer associated blood pressure fully adjusted model included additional adjustment degree attained 00 95 confidence limit 05 04 fully adjusted model including adjustment years schooling individuals graduate degree still significantly lower systolic blood pressure hs degreeholders eg 92 95 confidence limit 152 32 graduate vs high school degree findings similar diastolic blood pressure association years schooling blood pressure may largely due degree attainment rather simply knowledge skills accumulated due years schooling alone