Education and Mental Health in Young Adulthood: New Evidence From Genetic Markers
利用遗传标记作为工具变量，研究发现大学学历能显著降低青年抑郁症状（0.4-0.5个标准差）和重度抑郁概率（8%-12%），对LGB群体保护作用更强，机制包括改善劳动市场结果和健康行为。
This paper presents new evidence on the impact of education on depression in young adults. Utilizing data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, I employ family fixed-effect regressions and an instrumental variable approach using genetic scores. I find having a college degree is associated with a reduction in depression symptoms by 0.4-0.5 standard deviations and a decrease in the probability of experiencing major depression by 8%-12%. These findings are robust when exclusion restriction assumptions of the instrument are relaxed. A college degree appears to have a stronger protective effect on mental health for LGB individuals compared to heterosexuals. I find that education could affect mental health outcomes from better labor market outcomes and improved health behaviors. These results suggest that bolstering educational attainment could be an effective way to battle the high rate of depression.