Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 5, 2026

Highlighting and Reducing the Impact of Negative Aging Stereotypes During Older Adults' Cognitive Testing
Published on: January 24, 2020
No evidence for a protective effect of education on mental health
Sarah C Dahmann1, Daniel D Schnitzlein2
1The University of Sydney, School of Economics, Social Sciences Building, NSW 2006, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence for Children and Families Over the Life Course, Australia; Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Germany.
Abstract:
This paper analyzes whether education has a protective effect on mental health. To estimate causal effects, we employ an instrumental variable (IV) technique that exploits a reform extending compulsory schooling by one year implemented between 1949 and 1969 in West Germany. We complement analyses on the Mental Component Summary (MCS) score as a generic measure of overall mental health with an MCS-based indicator for risk of developing symptoms of mental health disorder and a continuous measure of subjective well-being. Results support existing evidence of a positive relationship between completed years of secondary schooling and mental health in standard OLS estimations. In contrast, the IV estimations reveal no such causal protective effect and negative effects cannot be ruled out.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Benefits of Self-Esteem
Stress and Mental Health
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
Correlations
Cause and Effect
Depressive Disorders: Etiology
Biological Factors in Depression
Biological predispositions significantly influence the risk of developing depressive disorders. Genetic studies highlight the role of variations in the serotonin transporter...
Bias in Epidemiological Studies

