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Ses Trajectories, Recession Hardships, and Daily Well-being Among Adults in the United States

Year: 2017

Type: article

Abstract: Objectives. To examine how life-course trajectories of socioeconomic status (SES) and the experience of hardships during recession predict daily well-being across adulthood. Methods. Data from the baseline survey and the daily diary study of the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) Refresher study were combined, resulting in 782 participants (55.6% female, M age = 47.91 y.o.) who reported on 5,849 days of information including daily stressors and daily well-being. Participants’ childhood SES was combined with their formal educational attainment and adult SES, resulting in five SES trajectories: stable low, downwardly mobile, upwardly mobile, stable high, and mixed (no clear patterns). In addition, the recession hardships included job, home, and financial impacts of the economic downturn on individuals. The associations among SES trajectories, recession hardships, and daily well-being was analyzed using multilevel modeling. Results. Participants in the stable low and downwardly mobile groups, but not in the upwardly mobile group, significantly reported a higher level of recession hardships, daily negative affect, and daily physical symptoms compared to participants in the stable high group. Higher levels of recession hardships were also associated with worse daily well-being. The impact of SES trajectories and recession hardships on daily physical symptoms was stronger among women, while their association with daily negative affect was stronger among older participants. Discussion. Upward mobility, especially through the attainment of a better education, is the key to alleviating the negative impact of childhood socioeconomic disadvantage on later well-being, particularly during and post-recession.

Source: Innovation in Aging

DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igx004.2013

Authors: A. Surachman, D. Almeida

Institution: Pennsylvania State University

Language: English

Topic: Health disparities and outcomes

Subfield: Health

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,977