美國中老年人口之教育程度與死亡壓縮

Advanced Education and Mortality Compression in the United States

將教育視為「根本原因」(fundamental cause) 的研究指出，教育程度較高者和教育程度較低者相比，享有較長的平均餘命和較壓縮的死亡年齡區間。然而，過去研究雖然指出教育對於死亡壓縮之 影響力顯著，但忽略了高等教育範圍內「教育─死亡壓縮」之異質性和重要性。本研究使用具美國全國代表性之長期追蹤調查資料庫 (Health and Retirement Study)，探討學士 (含) 以上教育程度是否在個體生存機會中扮演日漸重要之角色。研究結果不僅顯示了壽命與死亡壓縮之教育梯度，亦指出學士 (含) 以上教育程度在美國確 實已經逐漸成為個體存活機會之重要指標。

Studies regarding education as a “fundamental cause” of health disparities have shown that people who are moreeducated enjoy longer life expectancy and a compression of mortality compared with their less-educated counterparts. Previous studies have shown the significance of education for mortality compression, but may have overlooked heterogeneity and the importance of education-mortality compression association with postsecondary schooling. This study aims to examine whether advanced education has become increasingly important in determining the life chances of individuals in the United States using the Health and Retirement Study. The results not only show the educational gradients of longevity along with mortality compression, but also imply that advanced education has become increasingly important in determine life chances in the United States.