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Perceived Inequality and Wellness: Investigating the Longitudinal Links Between Relative Deprivation, Facets of Well-Being, and Self-Rated Health

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Individual-based relative deprivation—feeling unfairly economically disadvantaged compared to others—fosters psychological ill-being and poorer physical health. However, research has overlooked the possibility that relative deprivation also undermines emotional well-being, which is distinct from ill-being and uniquely contributes to physical health. Using nine annual waves of a nationwide longitudinal panel sample of adults (N = 58,741–66,221), the current research utilized random intercept cross-lagged panel models to assess the between- and within-person longitudinal associations between individual-based relative deprivation and three key indicators of emotional well-being: gratitude, meaning in life, and belonging. Results indicated that individual-based relative deprivation longitudinally predicted lower gratitude, meaning in life, and belonging. Moreover, lower belonging (but not gratitude or meaning in life) mediated the longitudinal associations between greater individual-based relative deprivation and poorer physical health. These results suggest that individual-based relative deprivation undermines emotional well-being, which partially explains why relative deprivation correlates with poorer physical health.

Source: Affective Science

DOI: 10.1007/s42761-025-00304-1

Authors: Brian P. Don, Kieren J. Lilly, Chris G. Sibley, Nickola C. Overall, Danny Osborne

Institution: University of Auckland

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: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,090