The Role of Educational Attainment

Abstract

Preliminary analyses described in Chap. 6 reveal that race/Hispanic origin and all-cause mortality risk are statistically related. But are there other variables that predict mortality risk above and beyond what is explained by race/Hispanic origin? Also, could these other independent variables be impacting on the relationship between Hispanic origin and mortality risk? The next 2 chapters will systematically address these questions. Because of the critical nature of education as it relates to life opportunities, this entire chapter is devoted to the role of educational attainment as it relates to race/Hispanic origin and mortality risk. In general populations, there are differences in educational attainment based on race/Hispanic origin that go back to the time when many players in the current study cohort were attending school. Non-Hispanic whites in the US are more educated than African-Americans and both these groups have more education than individuals born in Hispanic cohort countries. The empirical analysis indicates that like the general population, non-Hispanic white Major League Baseball players are the most educated relative to African-Americans and Hispanics. Educational attainment among Hispanic players is especially low. In addition, as educational attainment increases among players, mortality risk decreases. When educational attainment is controlled in the analysis, mortality risk for African-American remains significantly elevated compared to non-Hispanic whites. However, the risk between Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites is attenuated. These results may reflect a “Hispanic Paradox” or alternatively, could be due to a statistical anomaly owing to the skewed nature of educational attainment among Hispanic players.