PIRL researchers released a new working paper published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, drawing on survey data from National Longitudinal Survey of Youth and qualitative interviews with young adults in high-poverty neighborhoods in Baltimore. The paper finds that people who have experienced serious instability and adversity often anticipate future disruptions in their long term plans. The research found that this "anything could happen" effect is a significant factor in why disadvantaged students opt for community college or certificate programs. 

Read more about the NBER paper here.