Abstract
Using 25 years of data taken from the NLSY-79, I investigate the relationship between two measures of health-related work limitations and the likelihood of post-secondary school enrollment. I measure health-related work limitations both in terms of limitations in the kind of work that can be performed and in the amount of work that can be performed. I argue that limitations in kind of work will spur school enrollment, while limitations in amount of work will suppress school enrollment. Results support these arguments.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Notes
In this article, I use the term health to refer to physical health.
An earlier study by Perri (1984) found a negative relationship between health status and school enrollment. However, this study only controlled for mother’s education, father’s education, and number of siblings. Important controls for variables such as income, marital status, labor market experience, and prior education are not included.
To the extent possible, if a respondent was not interviewed in a particular year, but was interviewed in a subsequent year, I used retrospective information collected by the NLSY to complete information for the missing person year.
References
Astone, N., Schoen, R., Ensminger, M., & Rothert, K. (2000). School reentry in early adulthood: The case of inner-city African Americans. Sociology of Education, 73, 133–154.
Beattie, I. (2002). Are all ‘adolescent econometricians’ created equal? Racial, class, and gender differences in college enrollment. Sociology of Education, 75, 19–43.
Behrman, J. (1996). The impact of health and nutrition on education. The World Bank Research Observer, 11, 23–37.
Boardman, J., Powers, D., Padilla, Y., & Hummer, R. (2002). Low birth weight, social factors, and developmental outcomes among children in the United States. Demography, 39, 353–368.
Bodenheimer, T., & Berry-Millett, R. (2009). Care management of patients with complex health care needs. The synthesis project, Issue 19. Robert Wood Johnson foundation. http://www.rwjf.org/pr/product.jsp?id=52372.
Bradburn, E., Moen, P., & Dempster-McClain, D. (1995). Women’s return to school following the transition to motherhood. Social Forces, 73, 1517–1551.
Breen, R., & Goldthorpe, J. (1997). Explaining educational differentials: Towards a formal rational action theory. Rationality and Society, 9, 275–305.
Case, A., Fertig, A., & Paxson, C. (2005). The lasting impact of childhood health and circumstance. Journal of Health Economics, 24, 365–389.
Dornbusch, S., Glasgow, K., & Lin, I. C. (1996). The social structure of schooling. Annual Review of Psychology, 47, 401–429.
Elman, C., & O’Rand, A. (2002). Perceived job insecurity and entry into work-related education and training among adult workers. Social Science Research, 31, 49–76.
Elman, C., & O’Rand, A. (2004). The race is to the swift: Socioeconomic origins, adult education, and wage attainment. American Journal of Sociology, 110, 123–160.
Entwisle, D., Alexander, K., & Olson, Linda. (1997). Children, schools, and inequality. New York: Westview Press.
Entwisle, D., Alexander, K., & Olson, L. (2004). Temporary as compared to permanent high school dropout. Social Forces, 82, 1181–1205.
Goesling, B. (2007). The rising significance of education for health? Social Forces, 85, 1621–1644.
Haas, S. (2006). Health selection and the process of social stratification: The effect of childhood health on socioeconomic attainment. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 47, 339–354.
Haas, S., & Fosse, N. (2008). Health and the educational attainment of adolescents: Evidence from the NLSY97. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 49, 178–192.
Hayward, M., Crimmins, E., Miles, T., & Yang, Y. (2000). The significance of socioeconomic status in explaining the racial gap in chronic health conditions. American Sociological Review, 65, 910–930.
Hu, Y., & Goldman, N. (1990). Mortality differentials by marital status: An international comparison. Demography, 27, 233–250.
John, W., Kosinski, M., & Keller, S. (1996). A 12-item short-form health survey: Construction of scales and preliminary tests of reliability and validity. Medical Care, 34, 220–233.
Kahn, J., & Pearlin, L. (2006). Financial strain over the life course and health among older adults. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 47, 17–31.
Kessler, R., Foster, C., Saunders, W., & Stang, P. (1995). Social consequences of psychiatric disorders, I: Educational attainment. American Journal of Psychiatry, 152, 1026–1032.
Kimbro, R., Sharon, B., Goldman, N., & Rodriquez, G. (2008). Race, ethnicity, and the education gradient in health. Health Affairs, 27, 361–372.
Lillard, L., & Waite, L. (1995). Till death do us part: marital disruption and mortality. American Journal of Sociology, 100, 121–156.
Lynch, S. (2003). Cohort and life-course patterns in the relationship between education and health: A hierarchical approach. Demography, 40, 309–331.
Manski, C., & Wise, D. (1983). College choice in America. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
Mare, R. (1980). Social background and school continuation decisions. Journal of the American Statistical Association, 75, 295–305.
McLeod, J., & Kaiser, K. (2004). Childhood emotional and behavioral problems and educational attainment. American Sociological Review, 69, 636–658.
Muller, C. (2001). The role of caring in the teacher–student relationship for at-risk students. Sociological Inquiry, 71, 241–255.
Needham, B. (2009). Adolescent depressive symptomatology and young adult educational attainment: An examination of gender differences. Journal of Adolescent Health, 45, 179–186.
Needham, B., Crosnoe, R., & Muller, C. (2004). Academic failure in secondary school: The inter-related role of health problems and educational context. Social Problems, 51, 569–586.
Nomaguchi, K., & Milkie, M. (2003). Costs and rewards of children: The effects of becoming a parent on adult’s lives. Journal of Marriage and Family, 65, 356–374.
Perri, T. (1984). Health status and schooling decisions of young men. Economics of Education Review, 3, 207–213.
Rogers, R. (1995). Marriage, sex, and mortality. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 57, 515–526.
Ross, C., & Chia-ling, W. (1995). The links between education and health. American Sociological Review, 60, 719–745.
Ross, C., & Mirowsky, J. (1999). Refining the association between education and health: The effects of quantity, credential, and selectivity. Demography, 36, 445–460.
Sorenson, H., Sabroe, S., Olson, J., Rothman, K., Gillman, M., & Fischer, P. (1997). Birth weight and cognitive function in young adult life: Historical cohort study. British Medical Journal, 315, 401–403.
Teachman, J., & Paasch, K. (1989). Returning to school after marriage: Results for whites and blacks. Sociological Forum, 4, 423–433.
Teachman, J., & Polonko, K. (1988). Marriage, parenthood, and the college enrollment of men and women. Social Forces, 67, 512–523.
Warren, J., Hauser, R., & Sheridan, J. (2002). Occupational stratification across the life course: Evidence from the Wisconsin longitudinal study. American Sociological Review, 67, 432–455.
Wells, T., Greg S., & Dennis H. (2003). What happens after high school years among young persons with disabilities? Social Forces, 82, 803–832.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Teachman, J. Health Limitations and Post-Secondary School Enrollment. Popul Res Policy Rev 31, 85–96 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11113-011-9225-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11113-011-9225-2