3 Extra Health Benefits of Earning a College Education

3 Extra Health Benefits of Earning a College Education

Many are aware that earning a college degree can help you acquire a career and earn more income. But pursuing a higher education can be so much more beneficial than just giving you a heftier number in your bank account. In fact, it can even extend your lifespan. That’s right. According to researchers, earning a college degree can play a direct role on your personal health— emotionally, physically and mentally. To learn 3 major ways a college degree can boost your health, continue reading below.

1. Healthier Married Life

Studies suggest that college educated people (women especially) are more satisfied in their marriages for several reasons—but the main one is that women have the opportunity to obtain better paying jobs and become independent, which means that they are more “selective” in who they pick as a lifelong mate. This means that they typically marry at an older age and are thus are more prepared to handle the responsibilities that come along with marriage as well as they are more likely to marry for love as opposed to marrying someone for financial stability. Thus researchers say that these marriages are less likely to end up in divorce.

2. Healthier Bodies

The human brain in not equipped to make “good” choices on its own—behavioral habits are instilled through different avenues, i.e. we are “taught” by our family and friends for example. But researchers suggest that those who pursue a college education tend to make healthier choices because of their new influences in their lives—professors, students and environment. Meaning, they are more likely to eat healthier and partake in activities that aid to improved health, such as walking, biking, and hiking which can prevent obesity and heart disease.

Not to mention that those who earn a college degree are more likely to get a better paying-job that provides health insurance which means he or she can get all patched up when ill much sooner and have a longer lifespan—in fact, college graduates can expect to live at least 5 years longer than those who did not complete high school, according to the National Longitudinal Mortality study. This statistic also factors in that college educated people are more likely to get jobs that do not reside in factories with harsh chemicals and are not as likely to experience “injuries on the job.”

3. Healthier Frame of Minds

Lastly, researchers say that college-educated graduates tend to be more level-headed and have a better sense of control, which means that are more likely to refrain from participating in activities that can hinder their health substantially—such as excessive drinking and smoking and doing drugs more than those who do not graduate high school. And because they get better-paying jobs, they are more likely have a higher social ranking and social support—two components that have be linked to better mental health.

By-line:
This guest post is contributed by Lauren Bailey, who regularly writes for BestCollegesOnline.com. She welcomes your comments at her email Id: blauren99 @gmail.com.