Postsecondary Education and Mental Health: Effects of Earned Credits versus Credentials.

• In Event: 266 - Section on Sociology of Mental Health Paper Session. Social Inequalities and Mental Health

Abstract

Does the quantity of education obtained or the specific credentials earned matter more for adult mental health? These two alternatives reflect competing theories of the association between educational attainment and adult mental and physical health --human capital theory and credential theory-- but have been difficult to adjudicate between in past research. We use the new Postsecondary Transcript Files addendum to the NLSY97 that includes detailed information on both the number of postsecondary credits obtained and specific credentials earned to provide new leverage. We focus on depressive symptoms as a particularly salient health dimension in early adulthood. We analyze the data using multiple approaches within the regression (OLS, fixed-effects) and structural equation frameworks. Results show that more credits and higher credentials are each independently associated with fewer depressive symptoms. However, if we stratify by or control the terminal postsecondary credential (none, AA, or BA), more earned credits are not associated with additional gains in mental health, suggesting stronger support for credential theory.

Authors

• Anna Zajacova, University of Western Ontario

• Sarah Burgard, University of Michigan