A 20-year national study has found that educational attainment plays a powerful role in shaping long-term psychological well-being, with those holding a college degree experiencing significantly more stability and growth than their less-educated counterparts. The findings were published in the journal Scientific Reports.
Researchers followed over 6,900 American adults from 1995 to 2015, tracking six key aspects of psychological well-being: autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relationships, purpose in life, and self-acceptance. The findings show a stark divide along educational lines. Adults with a high school education or less consistently reported lower levels of well-being across all dimensions and experienced steeper declines in several areas over time.
Jennifer Morozink Boylan, PhD, associate professor and director of Graduate Studies at the University of Colorado Denver, explained the motivation behind the research. “This study was motivated by concerns about widening inequality in America. We examined how levels of psychological well-being changed across 20 years of adulthood, from midlife into old age, testing whether such changes would differ based on one’s level of education or their age.”
Purpose in life – a sense of direction and meaning – declined for all participants, regardless of education level. However, the decline was more pronounced among those with higher education. Despite this, they still reported significantly higher purpose than those with less schooling. Meanwhile, individuals without a college degree faced more dramatic reductions in personal growth, autonomy, and environmental mastery, suggesting a lasting disadvantage that accumulates across decades.
Boylan noted that the data were drawn from a long-running national study. “We used data from a national longitudinal study known as the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) Study. MIDUS has followed over 7,000 American adults between the ages of 25 and 74 in 1995, which was the first wave of the study. These adults were subsequently interviewed two additional times, once in 2004 and again in 2013.”
The study also revealed how ageing interacts with well-being. Older adults, especially those over 60 at the beginning of the study, showed sharper declines in areas like autonomy and personal growth. Yet, interestingly, positive relationships improved with age, particularly among older adults. In contrast, younger adults reported a steady decrease in self-acceptance, indicating growing psychological strain among the youngest generation.
“Most aspects of well-being also decreased over time, with lower education adults showing more decline compared to those with more education,” said Boylan. “Positive relations with others was the exception. This type of well-being increased across the 20 years for everyone and had much smaller education differences.”
Researchers believe these patterns reflect both structural and social inequalities. Education often determines the quality of employment, access to healthcare, and exposure to chronic stress. Over time, these factors contribute to divergent paths in psychological development. The findings raise concerns about the long-term health implications of these disparities, as higher well-being is linked to lower risk of chronic illness, better biological regulation, and longer life expectancy.
“These findings indicate that varieties of well-being are less available to American adults without a college education,” Boylan added. “As such, the work aligns with growing inequalities in earnings, employment opportunities, health, and how long someone lives based on their educational attainment.”
Despite the clear links between education and psychological outcomes, the study found no significant differences in trajectories based on gender or race once education was taken into account. Still, the persistent gap in well-being by educational level suggests a growing societal divide. Individuals with fewer qualifications are less likely to access the psychological benefits that support long and healthy lives.
Boylan concluded: “We are concerned about the extent to which persistent disadvantage in psychological well-being will adversely impact physical health given prior evidence that psychological well-being is linked with biology, behavior, when and whether we get chronic illnesses, and longevity.”
