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No evidence for a protective effect of education on mental health

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  • Dahmann, Sarah C.
  • Schnitzlein, Daniel D.

Abstract

This paper analyzes whether education has a protective effect on mental health. To estimate causal effects, we employ an instrumental variable (IV) technique that exploits a reform extending compulsory schooling by one year implemented between 1949 and 1969 in West Germany. We complement analyses on the Mental Component Summary (MCS) score as a generic measure of overall mental health with an MCS-based indicator for risk of developing symptoms of mental health disorder and a continuous measure of subjective well-being. Results support existing evidence of a positive relationship between completed years of secondary schooling and mental health in standard OLS estimations. In contrast, the IV estimations reveal no such causal protective effect and negative effects cannot be ruled out.

Suggested Citation

  • Dahmann, Sarah C. & Schnitzlein, Daniel D., 2019. "No evidence for a protective effect of education on mental health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 241(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:241:y:2019:i:c:s0277953619305799
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2019.112584
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    2. Yaoyao Sun & Haidong Song & Hong Liu & Fangxiang Mao & Xiaohua Sun & Fenglin Cao, 2021. "Occupational stress, mental health, and self-efficacy among community mental health workers: A cross-sectional study during COVID-19 pandemic," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 67(6), pages 737-746, September.
    3. Bertermann, Alexander & Kamhöfer, Daniel A. & Schildberg-Hörisch, Hannah, 2023. "More education does make you happier - unless you are unemployed," DICE Discussion Papers 406, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf Institute for Competition Economics (DICE).
    4. Cobb-Clark, Deborah A. & Dahmann, Sarah Christina & Kamhöfer, Daniel A. & Schildberg-Hörisch, Hannah, 2022. "The determinants of population self-control," DICE Discussion Papers 385, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf Institute for Competition Economics (DICE).
    5. Tatjana Begerow & Hendrik Jürges, 2022. "Does compulsory schooling affect health? Evidence from ambulatory claims data," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 23(6), pages 953-968, August.
    6. Schmidtke, Julia & Hetschko, Clemens & Schöb, Ronnie & Stephan, Gesine & Eid, Michael & Lawes, Mario, 2021. "The Effects of the Covid-19 Pandemic on the Mental Health and Subjective Wellbeing of Workers: An Event Study Based on High-Frequency Panel Data," IAB-Discussion Paper 202113, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany].
    7. Amin, Vikesh & Fletcher, Jason M & Lu, Qiongshi & Song, Jie, 2023. "Re-examining the relationship between education and adult mental health in the UK: A research note," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    8. Schmitz, Hendrik & Tawiah, Beatrice Baaba, 2023. "Life-cycle health effects of compulsory schooling," Ruhr Economic Papers 1006, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.
    9. Aygun, Aysun Hiziroglu & Tirgil, Abdullah, 2024. "The Causal Impact of Education on Mental Health and Explanatory Mechanisms," EconStor Preprints 280901, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    10. Alexander Bertermann & Daniel A. Kamhöfer & Hannah Schildberg-Hörisch, 2023. "More Education Does Make You Happier – Unless You Are Unemployed," SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research 1192, DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).
    11. Xindong Xue & Mingmei Cheng & Wangyongxin Zhang, 2021. "Does Education Really Improve Health? A Meta‐Analysis," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 35(1), pages 71-105, February.
    12. Stenberg, Anders & Tudor, Simona, 2023. "Field of Study and Mental Health in Adulthood," IZA Discussion Papers 16701, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Mental health; Returns to education; Compulsory schooling Reform;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I26 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Returns to Education

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