Cumulative Advantage Processes as Mechanisms of Inequality in Life Course Health

Educational expansion and the education gradient in health: A hierarchical age-period-cohort analysis

“…the age-as-leveler hypothesis (Figure 1) (Dupre, 2007;Willson et al, 2007) and the cumulative advantage hypothesis (Figure 2) (Leopold & Leopold, 2013;Mirowsky & Ross, 2005;Ross & Wu, 1996;Willson et al, 2007). The age-as-leveler hypothesis predicts that educational differences in health decrease at older ages (Dupre, 2007).…”

“…By contrast, the cumulative advantage hypothesis predicts an increase in educational disparities in health with age (Mirowsky & Ross, 2005;Ross & Wu, 1996;Willson et al, 2007). According to the theory of learned effectiveness, education contributes to the development of values, skills, traits, habits, and abilities which increase effective agency.…”

“…Only a more robust group of less-educated individuals survive, who are not representative of the total population of lower-educated older individuals (Leopold & Leopold, 2013). Second, convergence with age can be attributed to age-targeted social policies (Dupre, 2007;Ross & Wu, 1996;Willson et al, 2007). Old-age social security programs can counter the accumulation of educationrelated disadvantages throughout the life course, equalizing health differences among the older population.…”

“…Age and historical context intersect, so the cumulative relationship between educational returns and health might differ from one cohort to another (Chen et al, 2010;Willson et al, 2007). The body of social epidemiological literature is currently one-sided in this regard.…”

“…While there is extensive literature concerning life course trajectories (Dupre, 2007;Mirowsky & Ross, 2005;Ross & Wu, 1996;Willson et al, 2007), researchers know much less about the impact of cohort experiences on the education-health gap. The inclusion of an interaction between birth cohort and education has principally been justified as a methodological necessity.…”