Social class and subjective well-being in Chinese adults: The mediating role of present fatalistic time perspective

Abstract

Previous studies have revealed a positive relationship between social class and subjective well-being, but it is still unclear why social class is associated with subjective well-being. In the current study, 4168 Chinese adults aged 17 to 67 years completed measures of social class, present fatalistic time perspective and subjective well-being. Then a mediation analysis was conducted to examine whether present fatalistic time perspective would mediate the association between social class and subjective well-being. Results indicated social class was positively associated with subjective well-being; subjective social class (SSC) had a stronger association with subjective well-being than did objective social class (OSC). Social class was negatively related to present fatalistic time perspective; however, OSC was more predictive of present fatalistic time perspective than was SSC. Moreover, the relationship between social class and subjective well-being was mediated by present fatalistic time perspective, whether SSC or OSC. These results add to our understanding of the theoretical concept of social class and shed new light on a mechanism involved in the social class/well-being association. The implications of this study and future directions are also discussed.