Effects of Timing and Level of Degree Attainment on Depressive Symptoms and Self-Rated Health at Mid-Life

Katrina M. Walsemann, University of South Carolina
Bethany A. Bell, University of South Carolina

We examined if the attainment of a higher educational degree after age 25 was associated with fewer depressive symptoms and better self-rated health at mid-life. We analyzed data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, restricting our sample to respondents who had not attained at least a bachelor’s degree by age 25 (n=7,179). All regression models were stratified by highest degree attained by age 25. Among respondents with no degree, a high school diploma, or a post-high school certificate at age 25, attaining at least a bachelor’s degree by mid-life was associated with fewer depressive symptoms and better self-rated health at mid-life compared to respondents who did not attain a higher degree by mid-life. Better self-rated health at mid-life was also reported by those with an associate’s degree at age 25 who later attained a bachelor’s degree or higher.