Noncognitive correlates of education

Native-born Estonian men (N = 1495), 18–23 years old, participated in a study on relationships between the level of education and noncognitive characteristics of mind (so-called Characteristic Adaptations: attitudes, values, self-concept, etc.). In addition to Characteristic Adaptations, the model included parents' level of education, personality dimensions, cognitive ability, and word meaning structure variables that may mediate the relationships between the level of education and Characteristic Adaptations. It was found that, after the effect of background variables on the dependent variables was taken into account, the level of education was still related to noncognitive constructs in the model (collectivism, coping style, aggression, attitudes towards alcohol and narcotics, and self-esteem). A higher level of education was related to adaptive noncognitive characteristics of mind.