Work

The Nonequivalent Health of High School Equivalents

Year: 2013

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: (GED) diploma. Virtually nothing is known about the health of this large group, although literature suggests GED recipients are considerably worse off than high school graduates in numerous economic and social outcomes. We analyze general health among working-age adults with a high school diploma, GED recipients, and high school dropouts. METHODS: Ordered and binary logistic models of self-rated health and activity limitations were estimated using data from the 1997-2009 National Health Interview Surveys (N=76,703). RESULTS: GED recipients have significantly and substantially worse health than high school graduates, among both sexes. In fact, the GED recipients' health is generally comparable to that of high school dropouts. Health behaviors and economic factors explain a large proportion of the difference but the gap remains significant. CONCLUSIONS: In terms of health, adults with a terminal GED are not equivalent to high school graduates. GED recipients report considerably worse general health and activity limitations. The disadvantage is only partly due to the worse economic outcomes and health behaviors; a significant difference remains unexplained and may be due to other, unobserved pathways, or to selection mechanisms.

Source: Social Science Quarterly

DOI: 10.1111/ssqu.12039

Authors: Anna Zajacova, Bethany G. Everett

Institutions: University of Wyoming, University of Illinois Chicago

Language: English

Topic: Health disparities and outcomes

Subfield: Health

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities, Quality education

Open Access status: green

Funder: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development