Education and Self-Direction Toward Health

John Mirowsky

National Institutes of Health

Symposium on Education and Health

December 2, 2009

Population Research CenterThe University of Texas at Austin

TopicsThe sociological perspective

The sociology of health and aging

Sociological facts about education

Observations about education and health

Theory of education’s importance to health

Population Research CenterThe University of Texas at Austin

Education and Health

Education and Health

The five main points

Broadly beneficial

Large health differences

Grow across adulthood

Becoming more important

Due to learned effectivenessPopulation Research CenterThe University of Texas at Austin

National Institute on AgingAging, status and the sense of control

RO1-AG12393; PI: John Mirowsky

Education, resource substitution and health

RO1-AG023380; PI: Catherine E. Ross

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Educational differences in U.S. adult mortality

RO1-HD053696; PI: Robert A. Hummer

Population Research Center

R24-HD042849; Director Mark Hayward

Population Research CenterThe University of Texas at Austin

Research Support

SociologyEmpirical investigation

Critical analysis

HUMAN scienceSubjects, not objects

Information forPolicymakers

Scientists

The public

Scientific study of human social behavior

Population Research CenterThe University of Texas at Austin

SociologyStratification

Demography

Social psychologyThree traditional divisions

Integrated in the study of health and aging

Population Research CenterThe University of Texas at Austin

StratificationAscribed statuses

Sex, race, ethnicity,

AGE

Achieved statuses Income, wealth,

occupation, prestige,

EDUCATION

The study of social status: relative social standing, rank, position, class, strata

Population Research CenterThe University of Texas at Austin

DemographyDynamics

migration, births, DEATHS

demographic transition

Composition Sex, race, ethnicity, AGE

population aging

The study of human populations

Population Research CenterThe University of Texas at Austin

DemographyAge

Time since birth

Period

Time of observation

Cohort

Time of birth

Three analytic concepts of time

Population Research CenterThe University of Texas at Austin

Social PsychologyThe study of beliefs, attitudes, lifestyles and well-being

Population Research CenterThe University of Texas at Austin

Social Psychology

Powerlessness

Isolation

Normlessness

Meaninglessness

Mistrust

Origins in research on alienation

Population Research CenterThe University of Texas at Austin

Social Psychology

Acute stressorsLife events

Undesirable

Uncontrollable

Abnormal timing

Abormal order

Stressful events and conditions

Population Research CenterThe University of Texas at Austin

Social Psychology

Chronic stressorsEconomic hardship

Trouble paying bills, buying food, paying for medical care

Unfulfilling workTedious, constricting or

demeaning versus interesting, challenging and self-expressive

Single parenthood

Neighborhood disorderThreatening and demoralizing

signs of abandonment and crime

Stressful events and conditions

Population Research CenterThe University of Texas at Austin

Sociology of Health and Aging

Life courseA path taken through life

Health and well-beingFeeling healthy, functioning

well

TrajectoryExpected value of an

outcome as a function of age, within cohorts

TrendAge-specific outcomes

changing across cohorts

Studying trajectories and trends in health and well-being

Population Research CenterThe University of Texas at Austin

Life course trajectories Trajectories describe the changes in an outcome as a cohort goes through life.

Population Research CenterThe University of Texas at Austin

Parabolictrajectory

with no trend

18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60 66 72 78 84 90

Age

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

Inter-cohort trends Trends describe the changes across cohorts in age-specific outcomes

Population Research CenterThe University of Texas at Austin

Parabolictrend with

flat trajectory

18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60 66 72 78 84 90

Age

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

Trends in trajectories Over periods of several years, most outcomes show trends in the trajectories

Population Research CenterThe University of Texas at Austin

18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60 66 72 78 84 90

Age

Trajectorywith trend

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

Facts about educationDifferences across

levels of education do not fade with the passing of time

#1

Education is a structural variable

It identifies population strata that regress toward different expected values

Population Research CenterThe University of Texas at Austin

Facts about educationDifferences across

levels of education often grow with time since the end of schooling

#1

Education is a structural variable

It identifies population strata that regress toward different expected values

Population Research CenterThe University of Texas at Austin

Facts about education

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.4

18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60 66 72 78 84 90

Age

Sen

se o

f Con

trol

College degree

High school degree

No high school degree

#1

Education is a structural variable

Trajectories and trends differ across levels of education.

Population Research CenterThe University of Texas at Austin

Facts about education

Education influences other aspects of achieved status

Occupation

Prestige

Employment

Job security

Management level

Job qualityAutonomy and creativity

Earnings

Household income

Wealth

#2

Education is the preeminent aspect of social stratification in the U.S.

Population Research CenterThe University of Texas at Austin

Facts about education

Status attainment within cohorts

Status transmission between generations

The way children inherit parental status

Upward mobility between generations

The way children rise above status origins

#2

Education is the preeminent aspect of social stratification in the U.S.

Population Research CenterThe University of Texas at Austin

Facts about education

Upward mobility between generations

Children must achieve higher average levels of education than their parents to keep the average level of education from falling

#2

Education is the preeminent aspect of social stratification in the U.S.

Population Research CenterThe University of Texas at Austin

Observations about education and health

The better educated……feel healthier

…have fewer impairments and disabilities that interfere with daily life

…more frequently feel vigorous and thriving

…less often suffer aches, pains and malaise

…less often feel worried or depressed

…carry fewer diagnoses of threatening or debilitation chronic disease

…expect to live longer

…commonly do live longer

#1

Health is better at higher levels of education by every measure

Population Research CenterThe University of Texas at Austin

Observations about education and health

#2

The differences in health across levels of education are large

Population Research CenterThe University of Texas at Austin

Age

18

Physical Impairment

Less than high school degree

College degree or higher

24 30 36 42 48 54 60 66 72 78 84 900.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

Observations about education and health

#2

The differences in health across levels of education are large

Population Research CenterThe University of Texas at Austin

Age

18

Physical Impairment

Less than high school degree

College degree or higher

24 30 36 42 48 54 60 66 72 78 84 900.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

Observations about education and health

#2

The differences in health across levels of education are large

Population Research CenterThe University of Texas at Austin

Age

18

Physical Impairment

Less than high school degree

College degree or higher

24 30 36 42 48 54 60 66 72 78 84 900.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

Observations about education and health

#3

The differences in health across levels of education increase within cohorts as they age

Population Research CenterThe University of Texas at Austin

Age

18

Physical Impairment

Less than high school degree

College degree or higher

24 30 36 42 48 54 60 66 72 78 84 900.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

Observations about education and health

#3

The differences in health across levels of education increase within cohorts as they age

Population Research CenterThe University of Texas at Austin

Age

18

Physical Impairment

Less than high school degree

College degree or higher

24 30 36 42 48 54 60 66 72 78 84 900.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

Observations about education and health

#3

The differences in health across levels of education increase within cohorts as they age

Population Research CenterThe University of Texas at Austin

Age

18

Physical Impairment

Less than high school degree

College degree or higher

24 30 36 42 48 54 60 66 72 78 84 900.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

Observations about education and health

#4

Within levels of education, there is a trend toward worse age-specific health in newer cohorts

Population Research CenterThe University of Texas at Austin

Age

18

Physical Impairment

Less than high school degree

College degree or higher

24 30 36 42 48 54 60 66 72 78 84 900.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

Observations about education and health

#5

The health benefits of additional schooling are greater for persons with low-education parents

Population Research CenterThe University of Texas at Austin

1.6

1.4

1.2

1.0

.8

.6

.4

.2

.0

OwnEducation

< h. s. degree

high school degree

college degree

Parents' Education

h.s. degree +< high school

Self-Rated Health

Observations about education and health

#5a

The health benefits of education are greater for those less likely to get more schooling

Population Research CenterThe University of Texas at Austin

1.6

1.4

1.2

1.0

.8

.6

.4

.2

.0

OwnEducation

< h. s. degree

high school degree

college degree

Parents' Education

h.s. degree +< high school

Self-Rated Health

Observations about education and health

#5b

The health disadvantage from having parents with low education…

Population Research CenterThe University of Texas at Austin

1.6

1.4

1.2

1.0

.8

.6

.4

.2

.0

OwnEducation

< h. s. degree

Parents' Education

h.s. degree +< high school

Self-Rated Health

Observations about education and health

#5b

The health disadvantage from having parents with low education tends to vanish for those who get college degrees

Population Research CenterThe University of Texas at Austin

1.6

1.4

1.2

1.0

.8

.6

.4

.2

.0

OwnEducation

college degree

Parents' Education

h.s. degree +< high school

Self-Rated Health

Observations about education and health

#6

Education improves health outcomes at every step

Population Research CenterThe University of Texas at Austin

Theoretical explanations

Cumulative advantage

Human capital

Population Research CenterThe University of Texas at Austin

Theoretical explanations

Small changes add up over the decades of adulthood

Small differences in rates make large differences in outcomes over time

Advantages and disadvantages compound

Cumulative advantage

A benefit acquired by successive addition

Population Research CenterThe University of Texas at Austin

Theoretical explanations

AccumulatorsGather many smaller

effects into a large one

Once present, tend to stay present

“Stocks” vs. “flows”

Integrating with respect to time

Tend to compound

Cumulative advantage

Population Research CenterThe University of Texas at Austin

Theoretical explanations

AccumulatorsSocioeconomic

Earnings, income, savings, investments, durable goods, seniority, rank, authority

BehavioralHabits

Smoking, moderate drinking, physical activity, diet, planning, active problem solving, information seeking, critical thinking

RelationshipsSupportive and stable

BeliefsSense of control

Health beliefs

Cumulative advantage

Population Research CenterThe University of Texas at Austin

Theoretical explanations

Bio-accumulatorsBody fat

Resting metabolic rate

Cardiac output

Vital capacity

Atrophy of thymus

Atrophy of hippocampus

Bone density

Joint flexibility

Muscle mass

Ratio of fast to slow muscle fibers

Blood pressure

LDL/HDL cholesterol

Arteriosclerosis

Insulin resistance

Mitochondrial DNA errors

Collagen and elastin cross-linkage

Cumulative advantage

Population Research CenterThe University of Texas at Austin

Theoretical explanations

Human capital

Productive knowledge, skill, habits and abilities

Population Research CenterThe University of Texas at Austin

Theoretical explanations

Learned effectivenessInformation seeking

Future orientationPlanning

Deferred gratification

Critical analysis

Communication skillsWriting

Speaking

Sense of control

Self-direction

Resource substitution

Human capital

Productive knowledge, skill, habits and abilities

Population Research CenterThe University of Texas at Austin

Theoretical explanations

Creative workChallenging

Solving problems

Learning new things

Designing and planning

EngagingDoing different things in

different ways

Nonroutine

Human capital

Productive knowledge, skill, habits and abilities

Population Research CenterThe University of Texas at Austin

Education and Health

The five main points

Broadly beneficial

Large health differences

Grow across adulthood

Becoming more important

Due to learned effectivenessPopulation Research CenterThe University of Texas at Austin