Explaining social class differences in depression and well-being

1997 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. A. Stansfeld ◽  
J. Head ◽  
M. G. Marmot
Keyword(s):  
Social Class ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Class Differences

scholarly journals Partner Commitment in Close Relationships Mitigates Social Class Differences in Subjective Well-Being

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacinth Jia Xin Tan ◽  
Michael W. Kraus ◽  
Emily Impett ◽  
Dacher Keltner
Keyword(s):  
Social Class ◽  
Close Relationships ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Lower Class ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Upper Class ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Class Differences ◽  
Two Samples ◽  
The Relationship

Close relationships can be a source of positive subjective well-being for lower-class individuals, but stresses of lower-class environments tend to negatively impact those relationships. The present research demonstrates that a partner’s commitment in close relationships buffers against the negative impact of lower-class environments on relationships, mitigating social class differences in subjective well-being. In two samples of close relationship dyads, we found that when partners reported low commitment to the relationship, relatively lower-class individuals experienced poorer well-being than their upper-class counterparts, assessed as life satisfaction among romantic couples (Study 1) and negative affect linked to depression among ethnically diverse close friendships (Study 2). Conversely, when partners reported high commitment to the relationship, deficits in the well-being of lower-class relative to upper-class individuals were attenuated. Implications of these findings for upending the class divide in subjective well-being are discussed.

The Context: Growing Economic Inequality and Weakening Unions

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kay Lehman Schlozman ◽  
Sidney Verba ◽  
Henry E. Brady
Keyword(s):  
Social Class ◽  
Political Participation ◽  
Union Membership ◽  
Economic Inequality ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Political Conflict ◽  
Political Issues ◽  
Class Differences ◽  
Political Voice

This chapter reviews evidence about two complex trends: the increase in economic inequality and the decrease in union membership. In two fundamental ways, class inequalities underlie this inquiry into both the roots and the consequences of inequalities of political voice. Inequalities of political participation are, first, grounded in disparities in income, occupation, and especially education. As this chapter demonstrates, social class has multiple consequences for differences in individual and collective political participation. Second, inequalities on the basis of class shape the content of political conflict. That is, class differences are an important source of political division. Although the list of contentious political issues in contemporary America is long and varied, there can be no doubt that matters associated with differences in income and material well-being are critically important in generating political conflict.

In a Class on Their Own: Investigating the Role of Social Integration in the Association Between Social Class and Mental Well-Being

2021 ◽  
pp. 014616722110211
Author(s):  
Olivia Evans ◽  
Mark Rubin
Keyword(s):  
Social Class ◽  
Social Integration ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Lower Class ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Class Differences ◽  
Mental Well Being ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Financial Issues

It has been established that people from lower social classes tend to have poorer mental well-being compared with people from higher classes. Research also suggests that people from the lower classes are also less socially integrated. This research investigated the role of social integration in the relationship between social class and mental well-being across three studies (Study 1 N = 15,028; Study 2 N = 1,946; Study 3 N = 461). Across all studies, social class had an indirect effect on mental well-being via social integration. Moderation results found that social integration buffers the negative impact of financial issues on mental well-being, social support buffers the effects of class on mental ill-health, and family support amplifies rather than reduces social class differences in mental well-being. We propose that although improving social integration has the potential to improve the mental well-being of lower class populations, some caveats need to be considered.

scholarly journals Social-class differences in self-concept clarity and their implications for well-being

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (7) ◽  
pp. 951-960 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinkyung Na ◽  
Micaela Y Chan ◽  
Jennifer Lodi-Smith ◽  
Denise C Park
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Social Class ◽  
Middle Class ◽  
Working Class ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Self ◽  
Self Concept ◽  
Class Differences

A consistent/stable sense of the self is more valued in middle-class contexts than working-class contexts; hence, we predicted that middle-class individuals would have higher self-concept clarity than working-class individuals. It is further expected that self-concept clarity would be more important to one’s well-being among middle-class individuals than among working-class individuals. Supporting these predictions, self-concept clarity was positively associated with higher social class. Moreover, although self-concept clarity was associated with higher life satisfaction and better mental health, the association significantly attenuated among working-class individuals. In addition, self-concept clarity was not associated with physical health and its association with physical health did not interact with social class.

Identity options: Social class differences in biracial identification

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Townsend ◽  
Stephanie Fryberg ◽  
Hazel Markus ◽  
Clara Wilkins
Keyword(s):  
Social Class ◽  
Class Differences

Social Class and Wellbeing among Staff and Students in Higher Education Settings: Mapping the Problem and Exploring Underlying Mechanisms

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isla Dougall ◽  
Mario Weick ◽  
Milica Vasiljevic
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Social Class ◽  
Social Factors ◽  
Unique Contribution ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Class Differences ◽  
High Social Class ◽  
Lower Social Class ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
The Relationship

Within Higher Education (HE), lower social class staff and students often experience poorer wellbeing than their higher social class counterparts. Previous research conducted outside educational contexts has linked social class differences in wellbeing with differences in the extent to which low and high social class individuals feel respected (i.e., status), in control (i.e., autonomy), and connected with others (i.e., inclusion). However, to our knowledge, there has been no research that has investigated these factors within HE settings. Furthermore, inclusion, status and autonomy are correlated, yet little is known about how these factors contribute to wellbeing simultaneously, and independently, of one another. To fill these gaps, we report the results of two studies; firstly with HE students (Study 1; N = 305), and secondly with HE staff (Study 2; N = 261). Consistently across studies, reports of poor wellbeing were relatively common and more than twice as prevalent amongst lower social class staff and students compared to higher social class staff and students. Inclusion, status and autonomy each made a unique contribution and accounted for the relationship between social class and wellbeing (fully amongst students, and partially amongst staff members). These relationships held across various operationalisations of social class and when examining a range of facets of wellbeing. Social class along with inclusion, status and autonomy explained a substantial 40% of the variance in wellbeing. The present research contributes to the literature exploring how social class intersects with social factors to impact the wellbeing of staff and students within HE.

Social class, intensive parenting norms and parental values for children

2021 ◽  
pp. 001139212110485
Author(s):  
Trevor Tsz-lok Lee
Keyword(s):  
Social Class ◽  
Working Class ◽  
Social Reproduction ◽  
Academic Excellence ◽  
Structural Constraints ◽  
Competing Values ◽  
Parental Values ◽  
Class Differences ◽  
Value Choices ◽  
Intensive Parenting

As the global trend towards both middle- and working-class families raising their children intensively increases, social class differences in parenting beliefs and choices for their children have become more subtle. In light of the proliferation of intensive parenting norms, however, few studies have explored particular mechanisms underlying the subtle class differences linked to parental values. Drawing on in-depth interviews of 51 Hong Kong Chinese parents, this study investigated how parents contended with competing values in socialization, which in turn shaped their parenting choices. Three common values emerged from the interviews – academic excellence, hard work and happiness – showing that the middle and working classes managed their values for children in two different ways, termed here as ‘values coupling’ and ‘values juggling’, respectively. Middle-class parents were able to make their value choices cohesive through a ‘twist’ to reconcile between competing values. However, working-class parents were inclined to ‘drift’ their value choices in the face of unreconciled value tensions as well as structural constraints. Subtle differences in parental values were found to be tied to class position, and contributed to maintaining class inequality and social reproduction.

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