THE NONEQUIVALENT HEALTH OF HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENTS

OBJECTIVES: Millions of U.S. adults are recipients of the high school equivalency (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...

Description complète

Détails bibliographiques
Publié dans:Social science quarterly. - 1970. - 95(2014), 1 vom: 01. März, Seite 221-238
Auteur principal: Zajacova, Anna (Auteur)
Autres auteurs: Everett, Bethany G
Format: Article
Langue:English
Publié: 2014
Accès à la collection:Social science quarterly
Sujets:Journal Article
Description
Résumé:OBJECTIVES: Millions of U.S. adults are recipients of the high school equivalency (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
Description:Date Revised 09.04.2022
published: Print
Citation Status PubMed-not-MEDLINE
ISSN:0038-4941