Expecting to lose economic standing hurts well-being more than expecting to gain helps it
Worrying about slipping down the socioeconomic ladder may take a psychological toll. Across four studies in Spain and the U.S., expecting downward mobility was tied to greater status anxiety, which in turn predicted lower life satisfaction.
Expecting a decline in one's socioeconomic status could significantly harm well-being, according to a study published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. Researchers at the University of Granada in Spain found that the fear of losing status and social standing due to downward mobility has a stronger impact on well-being than the anticipation of moving up.
The study involved 2,819 participants in Spain and the United States, and included both surveys and experiments. One survey of 216 U.S. workers found that those who believed downward mobility was more common reported higher status anxiety, which was linked to lower life satisfaction, poorer health, and increased depressive symptoms.
Meanwhile, expecting one's own status to improve was associated with greater status anxiety, but it also led to higher life satisfaction. Despite the mixed findings in the experiments, the overall pattern indicated that the fear of a decline in socioeconomic position consistently reduced well-being. The researchers suggest that policies should focus on protecting vulnerable groups from economic downturns and improving well-being by addressing both upward and downward mobility concerns.
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