PhD Oral Exam - Sati Semnanizadeh, Economics

When studying for a doctoral degree (PhD), candidates submit a thesis that provides a critical review of the current state of knowledge of the thesis subject as well as the student’s own contributions to the subject. The distinguishing criterion of doctoral graduate research is a significant and original contribution to knowledge.

Once accepted, the candidate presents the thesis orally. This oral exam is open to the public.

Abstract

This dissertation investigates the long-term economic consequences of mental health, tracing its role across three interrelated domains: educational attainment, relationship stability, and career stability. Using panel data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), the dissertation applies structural modeling techniques to capture the multidimensional nature of mental health and its evolving impact across the life course.

The first chapter addresses a gap in the economics of education literature by examining how adolescent mental health influences high school completion and college enrollment. This study uses a two-step framework combining exploratory factor analysis with Generalized Structural Equation Modeling (GSEM) and logistic regression. Latent variables for mental and physical health are constructed using indicators such as ADHD, anxiety, depression, substance use, subjective health, and BMI. Results show that mental health significantly, though modestly, affects educational outcomes, with a stronger effect on college entry than on high school completion. A shift from poor to excellent mental health is associated with a 6.9 percentage point increase in college enrollment and a 4.2-point rise in high school completion.

The second chapter extends the analysis to intimate partnerships. Using a Cross-Lagged Panel Model (CLPM), the chapter demonstrates a significant bidirectional relationship between mental health and relationship stability. Individuals with better mental health experience more stable relationships, which in turn improve mental well-being. Moving from poor to excellent mental health predicts a 6.7-point rise in relationship stability, while stable relationships enhance mental health by 5.4 points.

The third chapter explores how mental health affects job stability using a mediated Structural Equation Model. Latent constructs for job stability, mental and physical health, estimated in an earlier stage, are used to examine both direct and indirect effects through mediating pathways such as prior relationship stability and physical health. A full-range improvement in mental health increases predicted job stability by 20.3 percentage points.