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Published in: Journal of Public Health 3/2014

01-06-2014 | Original Article

Dropping out of school and chronic disease in the United States

Authors: Michael G. Vaughn, Christopher P. Salas-Wright, Brandy R. Maynard

Published in: Journal of Public Health | Issue 3/2014

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Abstract

Aim

Despite links between education and health, it is unclear to what extent dropping out of school is associated with major chronic health conditions.

Subjects and Methods

Data from the 2006–2010 United States National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) was employed and examined associations between dropping out of school and major chronic health conditions among individuals 18 years or older (N = 189,896).

Results

Analyses show that dropout status is associated with increased odds of reporting a major chronic health condition; however, the effect is stronger for Whites and African-Americans than Hispanics.

Conclusions

Study findings suggest that one important strategy to prevent and reduce health disparities is increased education in general including high school completion. Policies and practices that reduce dropout may in turn impact the prevalence of chronic disease.
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Metadata
Title
Dropping out of school and chronic disease in the United States
Authors
Michael G. Vaughn
Christopher P. Salas-Wright
Brandy R. Maynard
Publication date
01-06-2014
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Journal of Public Health / Issue 3/2014
Print ISSN: 2198-1833
Electronic ISSN: 1613-2238
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-014-0615-x

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