Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Timely Bachelor’s Degree Attainment

It is well established that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are linked to health and emotional outcomes. However, less is known about the relationship between ACEs and educational attainment&mdash
a potentially important feature of educational stratification in America. Using the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), a nationally representative study following 7&ndash
12th grade students in the 1994&ndash
95 school year, I investigate the link between ACEs and these students&rsquo
timely post-secondary attainment. I also explore the role of health and socio-emotional factors as mediators. Results confirm that there is a graded relationship between ACEs and timely bachelor&rsquo
s degree attainment&mdash
an additional ACE decreases the odds of timely bachelor&rsquo
s degree attainment by about 17%, even after accounting for other related factors. In addition, the findings suggest that general health partially mediates this link.