A1 Journal article (refereed)
School Tracking and Mental Health (2021)

Böckerman, P., Haapanen, M., Jepsen, C., & Roulet, A. (2021). School Tracking and Mental Health. Journal of Human Capital, 15(2), 291-345. https://doi.org/10.1086/712728

The research was funded by Strategic Research Council at the Research Council of Finland.

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Böckerman, Petri; Haapanen, Mika; Jepsen, Christopher; Roulet, Alexandra

Journal or series: Journal of Human Capital

ISSN: 1932-8575

eISSN: 1932-8664

Publication year: 2021

Publication date: 01/06/2021

Volume: 15

Issue number: 2

Pages range: 291-345

Publisher: University of Chicago Press

Publication country: United States

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1086/712728

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/76116

Abstract

To understand how the type of education affects long-term mental health, we examine the effects of a comprehensive school reform on mental health–related hospitalizations and deaths. The reform postponed the tracking of students into vocational and academic schools from age 11 to age 16, thus affecting the set of peers and the curriculum to which these students were exposed. The reform was implemented gradually across Finnish municipalities between 1972 and 1977. We use difference-in-differences variation and administrative data. Our overall results show no discernible effects on mental health–related hospitalizations or deaths, but heterogeneity analysis shows an adverse effect on hospitalizations due to depression for females from highly educated families.

Keywords: school reform; comprehensive school; public health; mental health

Free keywords: type of education; school tracking; mental health

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Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2021

JUFO rating: 1