Recent studies have found that life expectancy has continued its long-term rise across all the groups represented in Figure §9.10, except one: Over the past couple decades, there has been a decrease in life expectancy for whites (both male and female) with relatively low education. Form one or more hypotheses about factors that might explain this decrease, and discuss how you would test your hypotheses. Then search for articles on this issue to find out what researchers attribute the decrease to, and why it affects this group but not others.

Life expectancy at birth (years) 90 70 60 Life Expectancy by Educational Attainment at Age 25 90 Hispanic Hispanic Non-Hispanic Black Non-Hispanic White Some college Educational attainment No high school diploma U.S. Females Non-Hispanic White High school graduate (or GED) Bachelor's degree or higher Life expectancy at birth (years) 70 60 No high school diploma U.S. Males Non-Hispanic Black High school Some college graduate (or GED) Educational attainment Bachelor's degree or higher