Work

American Dreaming? Evaluating Trait Explanations for Health Inequalities by Race and Socioeconomic Status

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: In the context of strong cultural beliefs associated with the American Dream, a prominent body of scholarship asserts that traits such as intelligence, self-confidence, and self-control play a pivotal role in the life course emergence of health inequalities by race and socioeconomic status (SES). We use prospectively ascertained data from approximately 50-year-old Black and White study participants (N = 605) whose mothers were recruited when pregnant with the participant. Follow-up into adulthood provided measures of cognitive and noncognitive traits, SES, and health needed to test trait explanations. Results show no evidence that traits are independently associated with adult health when SES is controlled or that they account for race or SES inequalities in health. Although the American Dream emphasizes individual traits as key factors shaping life outcomes, our results suggest the need to look elsewhere to understand why health inequalities by race and SES are such prominent social facts.

Source: Journal of Health and Social Behavior

DOI: 10.1177/00221465251368347

Authors: Bruce G. Link, Ezra S. Susser, Pam Factor-Litvak, Barbara A Cohn

Institutions: University of California, Riverside, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, Public Health Institute

Language: English

Topic: Health disparities and outcomes

Subfield: Health

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Reduced inequalities, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,900