Measures Of Social Status Research Articles

Perceived income inequality, perceived unfairness and subjective social status in Europe

Abstract This article examines the relationship between perceived income inequality, the perceived unfairness of income distribution (discrepancy between an individual’s perceived and preferred levels of income inequality) and subjective social status. Using four waves of the ‘Social Inequality’ module of the International Social Survey Programme (28 European countries, 70 000 individuals) and an empirical strategy that controls for a rich set of objective measures of social status and the objective level of income inequality, the results show that both perceived inequality and perceived unfairness are negatively associated with subjective social status. Moreover, perceived unfairness moderates the relationship between perceived inequality and subjective social status. Specifically, the negative effects are larger for individuals who perceive high levels of unfairness than for those with lower levels of perceived unfairness. The analysis also provides evidence that the association between perceived inequality and subjective social status is stronger for individuals with lower income, lower education, and those living in Eastern European countries.

Socially desirable resources and activities – evaluation of a new scale for the separate measurement of economic and cultural capital in educational research

ABSTRACT For the measurement of social status, many studies rely on a one-dimensional operationalization, even though the theoretical background that is typically referred to – Bourdieu’s theory of capital (1986) – suggests doing otherwise. A multi-dimensional empirical representation of social status is challenging because the indicators that are typically used in educational research cannot easily be attributed to only one form of capital. In this paper, we test a new scale for the separate measurement of economic and cultural capital. It consists of a list of socially desirable resources and activities for which respondents are asked to state whether they have/do them. In TIMSS 2015 Germany, the scale was implemented for the first time in a large-scale assessment study. Using multi-dimensional scaling, we identify two dimensions: economic and cultural capital. Conducting latent class analyses, we are able to group answers to the scale into four classes, which differ by the amount of economic (low/high) and cultural capital (low/high) students’ parents possess. In multivariate analyses with student achievement, the scale shows additional explanatory power. Overall, our analyses show that economic and cultural capital can be measured separately and that social status is a multi-layered construct that requires a multi-dimensional operationalization.

Beach Clubs and Tourist Gaze: A Critical Inquiry into the Construction of Social Distinction

This study explores the growing concerns about socioeconomic accessibility, inclusivity, and exclusionary practices of beach clubs as ostensibly public spaces in the tourism destination of Çeşme. The thematic analysis of Google Maps online reviews has provided critical insights into beach clubs’ selective admission practices and has elucidated the factors influencing customer perspectives and driving high demand for these clubs. Also, the findings revealed a relationship between customer expenditure and favorable entrance experiences; guests with lesser spending reported dissatisfaction and reluctance to revisit. Eight beach clubs with ratings deviating from the weighted average were examined to ensure diverse representation. The findings strongly encourage us to take urgent policy action to address the call for the need to create more inclusive beaches that should not be solely open to certain people with privileges. In the case of beach clubs, the adherence to specific dress codes and the emphasis on Instagram followers as a measure of social status reflect the doxa of conspicuous consumption and social hierarchies. This perpetuates a system where the privileged and affluent are more likely to gain access, while others may feel excluded or marginalized. Drawing on the solid theoretical frameworks of Pierre Bourdieu’s social theory and John Urry’s “tourist gaze,” this paper outlines the socio-economic barriers that distort ideals of public space and leisure and invites a reassessment of inclusivity in tourist destinations and luxury tourism.

Measurement invariance of subjective social status: The issue of single-item questions in social stratification research

Measures of objective and subjective social status are commonly used in social stratification research. While objective measures have been extensively examined for cross-national comparability, subjective indicators have received less attention. This study aims to address this research gap by investigating the measurement invariance of the three most commonly used single-item measures of subjective social status across many countries. Using a Bayesian approximation approach, we analysed data from three waves of the International Social Survey Programme conducted between 1999 and 2019. The analyses showed that our composite measure is a relatively reliable and stable construct when compared internationally. However, some single-item measures were not invariant across countries or survey rounds, suggesting that the average of a given single measure of subjective status or the relationship between it and other variables should not be compared across countries. Finally, the study showed that a subjective status item with a 10-step numerical ladder seems to be more appropriate for cross-country comparisons, showing low variation across countries. To improve the validity of future research, we recommend that at least three questions measuring subjective social status be included in international questionnaires and that subjective status be used as a latent construct whenever possible and appropriate.

Predicting job satisfaction: Findings from the British Cohort Study

This study examines factors influencing adult job satisfaction (JS) measured at age 42 years, using a large and nationally representative dataset of 4593 adults (48.5 % females) in the UK. Correlational analysis showed that parental social status measures (at birth), childhood intelligence (at age 10), teenage internal locus of control (at age 16), adult-achieved education (at ages 34) and occupation (at age 38) were all significantly and positively associated with adult job satisfaction at age 42. Structural equation modelling showed that parental social status, teenage locus of control, and adult-achieved education and occupation, all had significant and direct effects on adult job satisfaction, accounting for 19 % of the total variance. The strongest predictor of adult job satisfaction was occupational prestige. Further, significance of mediation tests showed that both adult-achieved education and occupation were mediators as well as predictors, that the effect of childhood intelligence on JS mainly mediated through adult-achieved education and occupation. Implications are considered.

The Impact of Socio-Economic Determinants of Health on PedsQL and Pain Outcomes Among Individuals with Sickle Cell Disease

Background: Pain in sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most visible symptom in patients. Many recent studies have shown that socio-economic status such as low income, educational achievement or even less affluent neighborhoods may contribute to the pain experience, with those of lower socioeconomic status (SES) reporting both acute and chronic pain more frequently. Furthermore, living in a less affluent area was associated with frequent use of analgesics after adjustment for pain intensity. The relationships between SES variables, pain-related anxiety, frequency of vaso-occlusive crises and/or acute care utilization have been explored; nevertheless, the relationship between SES and quality of life pain-related measures (pain hurt, pain interference, etc.) has yet to be reported. Methods: The St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Sickle Cell Clinical Research and Intervention Program (SCCRIP) is an observation cohort study of clinical outcomes in patients with SCD. Patients enrolled in SCCRIP were retrospectively evaluated based on various SES measurements. Household SES was evaluated using the Barratt Simplified Measure of Social Status (BSMSS), a composite index of parent education and occupation. The Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) was used to classify individuals based on social vulnerabilities at the neighborhood level. The area deprivation index (ADI) ranks neighborhood in a region of interest based on social risk factors that may predispose individuals to worse clinical outcomes Quality of life measures, Pain Hurt, Pain Impact, and Pain Management/Control, were extracted from the PedsQL SCD Module. High scores on the SVI and ADI are associated with low SES and high scores on the PedsQL indicate better SCD related quality of life (QoL) with lower burden and impact of pain on function. Multivariate linear regression models were used to evaluate the associations of SES with QoL pain-related outcomes, based on a stepwise model selection strategy, with potential covariates including age, gender, disease-modifying therapy (e.g., Hydroxyurea and chronic transfusions), hemoglobin, hemoglobin F (HbF)%, and each SES variable. Results: 944 patients between the ages of 5-61 (Mean=13.75, Standard Deviation=7.57) years diagnosed with SCD completed PedsQL testing and were assessed for SVI and ADI. Multivariate models demonstrated that patients with lower SVI (i.e., higher neighborhood SES) at the neighborhood level displayed higher scores with regards to Pain Hurt (est=-7.44, standard error (SE)=2.84, p=0.01), Pain Impact (est=-9.56, SE=3.18, p=0.003) and Pain Management/Control (est=-9.35, SE=3.81, p=0.01). Similar relationships were observed for patients with lower ADI. Additionally, there was a significant association between pain impact and BSMSS (est=0.20, SE=0.10, p=0.04), suggesting that individuals with higher BSMSS (higher household SES) also had higher pain impact scores (better quality of life). Conclusions: This study demonstrated that neighborhood and household SES have an impact on pain experience in youth with SCD. Patients with increased social vulnerability and area deprivation experienced lower health-related quality of life-related to SCD pain. Increased household SES was associated with greater SCD pain impact independent of the effects of patient age, gender, SCD therapy, and HbF. Our study suggests that social determinants of health, such as SES, play a role in pain experience and QOL related to SCD pain and should be explored further.

What Does the MacArthur Scale of Subjective Social Status Measure? Separating Economic Circumstances and Social Status to Predict Health.

Subjective socioeconomic status is robustly associated with many measures of health and well-being. The MacArthur Scale of Subjective Social Status (i.e., the MacArthur ladder) is the most widely used measure of this construct, but it remains unclear what exactly the MacArthur ladder measures. The present research sought to explore the social and economic factors that underlie responses to the MacArthur ladder and its relationship to health. We investigated this issue by examining the relationship between scores on the MacArthur ladder and measures of economic circumstances and noneconomic social status, as well as health and well-being measures, in healthy adults in the USA. In three studies (total N = 1,310) we found evidence that economic circumstances and social status are distinct constructs that have distinct associations with scores on the MacArthur ladder. We found that both factors exhibit distinct associations with measures of health and well-being and accounted for the association between the MacArthur ladder and each measure of health and well-being. Our findings suggest that the MacArthur ladder's robust predictive validity may result from the fact that it measures two factors-economic circumstances and social status-that are each independently associated with health outcomes. These findings provide a novel perspective on the large body of literature that uses the MacArthur ladder and suggests health researchers should do more to disentangle the social and economic aspects of subjective socioeconomic status.

Has the High Rate of Home Ownership in China Affected Residents’ Subjective Evaluation of Social Status?

Objective measures of social status based solely on socioeconomic resources have inherent limitations, impeding an accurate assessment of residents' social status issues. As a result, subjective social status has gained considerable significance in the maintenance of social order and stability. Using 2018 China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) data, we employ the Probit model to empirically examine the effects of home ownership in China on their subjective social status and their influencing mechanism. Our findings indicate that individuals with housing have higher subjective evaluations of their social status compared to individuals without home ownership, and individuals with multiple suites have higher happiness and life satisfaction. Further mechanistic analysis revealed that individuals with home ownership were able to accumulate household wealth and alleviate the sense of relative deprivation compared to individuals without home ownership, thus enhancing their subjective evaluations of their social status.

Examining individual social status using the MacArthur Scale of Subjective Social Status: Findings from the Born in Bradford study

Subjective social status is how a person perceives their social class relative to other people and has frequently been associated with people's health and well-being. A frequently used measure of subjective social status is the MacArthur Scale of Subjective Social Status that depicts social status as a 10 rung ladder, asking individuals to rank themselves on this ladder relative to other people, either in their local neighbourhood or wider society. The Born in Bradford's Better Start birth cohort study aims to understand the lives, relationships, wellbeing, and social and economic circumstances of pregnant women and their children in three inner city areas of Bradford, UK. Pregnant mothers were asked to report their subjective social status, using the MacArthur subjective social status scales, comparing themselves to other people in their local neighbourhood and in England as a whole. This paper explores the characteristics of the women who gave responses, examines associations between the MacArthur subjective social status measures and other subjective and objective measures and looks specifically at the characteristics of women who reported either very low or very high subjective social status. On average, women reported that they had a higher social status compared to others within their local neighbourhood (mean ladder rung = 6) and, although participants were from areas of Bradford with very high levels of deprivation, 23% placed themselves on the top three rungs, 8–10. Respondents reported that they had an average social status when comparing themselves to people in all of England (mean ladder rung = 5) and 13% placed themselves on the top rungs 8–10. These findings raise important questions about the interpretation of the MacArthur scale of subjective social status.

White matter fractional anisotropy in a nonhuman primate model of early Alzheimer’s Disease‐like neuropathology: Relationships with social status and physiologic measures of stress responses

AbstractBackgroundPsychosocial stress is associated with micro‐ and macrostructural brain changes that may increase risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). White matter (WM) appears particularly vulnerable, and changes in white matter integrity are an early sign of AD pathogenesis. Cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis) have complex central nervous systems and naturally develop early AD‐like neuropathology with age. Female macaques form social status hierarchies in which subordinates exhibit behavioral and physiological signs of stress, and increased stress‐related pathologies similar to humans. Nonhuman primate studies provide a useful platform in which to assess relationships between stress and brain health is a well‐controlled environment with limited outside influences. Thus, these nonhuman primates are useful translational models for studying relationships of psychosocial stress with early AD‐like neuropathology.MethodUsing diffusion tensor imaging, we examined the relationship between psychosocial stress and fractional anisotropy (index of WM microstructural integrity (FA)) in 38 middle‐aged female cynomolgus macaques living in small social groups. Subjects were classified as either dominant or subordinate based upon the outcomes of agonistic interactions. FA in several regions of interest (ROIs): splenium, body, and genu of the corpus callosum (CC), frontal, temporal, occipital, and total cerebral and cerebellar white matter was assessed in relation to social status and several contemporaneous measures of stress physiology (blood pressure, resting cortisol, and heart rate variability (HRV)).ResultRepeated measures ANOVA using left and right ROIs as a repeated measure showed that dominants had significantly higher FA than subordinates in the genu and splenium of the CC, and the occipital and frontal cortices (all p<0.05). Dominants also had higher FA, on average, in the body of CC (p = 0.07) and cerebrum (p = 0.10), although these differences were not significant. Dominants and subordinates did not differ in temporal or cerebellar FA (both p>0.7). FA was inversely correlated with blood pressure, directly correlated with HRV (p’s<0.05), but not correlated with serum cortisol.ConclusionPsychosocial stress of subordination, as well as physiologic indices of stress responses, was associated with diminished WM integrity in several brain regions. These studies lay the groundwork for investigations of interventions on psychosocial stress to reduce AD risk later in life.

Social determinants of neurocognitive and academic performance in sickle cell disease.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is associated with poor neurocognitive outcomes due to biomedical and psychosocial factors. The aims of this study were to investigate associations between household and neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) with cognitive and academic outcomes in SCD and to determine if these relationships were modified by sickle genotype, fetal hemoglobin, or age. We prospectively recruited patients to complete a battery of neurocognitive and academic measures. Household SES was measured using the Barratt Simplified Measure of Social Status, a composite index of parent education and occupation. The Social Vulnerability Index was used to classify individuals based on social vulnerabilities at the neighborhood level. Overall, 299 patients between the ages of 4 and 18 (mean=11.4, standard deviation=4.3) years diagnosed with SCD (57% SS/SB0 -thalassemia) completed testing. Stepwise multivariate models demonstrated that patients with low social vulnerability (i.e., high SES) at the neighborhood level displayed intelligence and math scores that were 4.70 and 7.64 points higher than those living in areas with moderate social vulnerability, respectively (p<.05). Reading performance did not differ based on neighborhood SES; however, the effect of neighborhood SES was dependent on age, such that older participants living in neighborhoods with moderate or high levels of social vulnerability displayed poorer reading scores than those with low social vulnerability (p<.05). This study identified patients with SCD at higher risk of poor academic performance based on SES. Interventions addressing academic difficulties should be offered to all children with SCD, but should be emergently offered to this subpopulation.

Status does not predict stress among Hadza hunter-gatherer men

In recent years there has been much research regarding the extent to which social status is related to long-term indices of health. The majority of studies looking at the interplay between social status and health have been conducted in industrialized societies. However, it has been argued that most of human evolution took place in small, mobile and egalitarian hunter-gatherer groups where individuals exhibited very little variation in terms of material wealth or possessions. In this study, we looked at the extent to which two domains of social status, hunting reputation (being perceived as a good hunter) and popularity (being perceived as a friend), are related to physiological stress levels among Hadza men, hunter-gatherers living in Northern Tanzania. The results of our study show that neither hunting reputation nor popularity is associated with stress levels. Overall, our data suggest that, in at least some traditional small-scale societies exhibiting an egalitarian social model, such as the Hadza, the variation in social status measures based on both popularity and hunting reputation does not translate into one of the commonly used indices of wellbeing.

White Matter Fractional Anisotropy in a Nonhuman Primate Model of Early Alzheimer’s Disease‐like Neuropathology: Relationships with Social Status and Physiologic Measures of Stress Responses

AbstractBackgroundPsychosocial stress is associated with micro‐ and macrostructural brain changes that may increase risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). White matter (WM) appears particularly vulnerable, and changes in white matter integrity are an early sign of AD pathogenesis. Cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis) have complex central nervous systems and naturally develop early AD‐like neuropathology with age. Female macaques form social status hierarchies in which subordinates exhibit behavioral and physiological signs of stress, and increased stress‐related pathologies similar to humans. Nonhuman primate studies provide a useful platform in which to assess relationships between stress and brain health is a well‐controlled environment with limited outside influences. Thus, these nonhuman primates are useful translational models for studying relationships of psychosocial stress with early AD‐like neuropathology.MethodUsing diffusion tensor imaging, we examined the relationship between psychosocial stress and fractional anisotropy (index of WM microstructural integrity (FA)) in 38 middle‐aged female cynomolgus macaques living in small social groups. Subjects were classified as either dominant or subordinate based upon the outcomes of agonistic interactions. FA in several regions of interest (ROIs): splenium, body, and genu of the corpus callosum (CC), frontal, temporal, occipital, and total cerebral and cerebellar white matter was assessed in relation to social status and several contemporaneous measures of stress physiology (blood pressure, resting cortisol, and heart rate variability (HRV)).ResultRepeated measures ANOVA using left and right ROIs as a repeated measure showed that dominants had significantly higher FA than subordinates in the genu and splenium of the CC, and the occipital and frontal cortices (all p&lt;0.05). Dominants also had higher FA, on average, in the body of CC (p=0.07) and cerebrum (p=0.10), although these differences were not significant. Dominants and subordinates did not differ in temporal or cerebellar FA (both p&gt;0.7). FA was inversely correlated with blood pressure, directly correlated with HRV (p’s&lt;0.05), but not correlated with serum cortisol.ConclusionPsychosocial stress of subordination, as well as physiologic indices of stress responses, was associated with diminished WM integrity in several brain regions. These studies lay the groundwork for investigations of interventions on psychosocial stress to reduce AD risk later in life.

Social Determinants of Health and Neurocognitive Functioning in Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is associated with significant neurocognitive risk due to a combination of disease and environmental factors. Neurological complications, including overt stroke, silent cerebral infarctions, and chronic insufficiencies in oxygen and/or glucose delivery to the brain contribute to neurocognitive decline. Environmentally, patients with SCD experience greater rates of poverty and fewer protective socioeconomic factors when compared with the Black population in the United States. Both personalized (e.g. familial education and occupation) and community measures of socioeconomic status uniquely contribute to neurocognitive outcomes. However, no studies have examined the specific community-level factors that contribute to neurocognitive performance. The primary objective of this study was to investigate associations between familial and community-level social determinants with cognitive and academic outcomes in a large prospectively recruited sample of patients with SCD ranging from childhood to young adulthood.We included 103 patients with SCD (51% HbSS/HbSβ 0-thalassemia). The mean age of participants was 12.86 (SD=4.04) years. Familial socioeconomic status was measured using the Barratt Simplified Measure of Social Status (BSMSS), a composite of parent education and occupation status. Community-level (based on census block) socioeconomic variables included: poverty rate, unemployment rate, percentage of individuals with a bachelor's degree, and access to food nutrition services. Following informed consent, patients completed gold-standard neurocognitive measures supervised by a psychologist, assessing intellectual (Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence - Second Edition) and academic functioning (Woodcock Johnson Tests of Achievement - Third Edition). Multivariate linear regression was used to examine associations between community and familial level socioeconomic status with cognitive/academic outcomes after adjusting for age, sickle genotype, and hydroxyurea exposure. Stepwise linear regression was used to identify the independent factors associated with cognitive/academic outcomes. The False discovery rate (FDR) developed by Benjamini and Hochberg was used to control for multiple testing and FDR-adjusted p-values (pFDR) <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Otherwise, p-values <0.05 were considered significant.Patients with SCD lived in communities with high rates of poverty (26.57%) and unemployment (13.58%) and low rates of college education (13.26%). In multivariate analyses adjusting for age, sickle genotype, and hydroxyurea exposure, IQ was associated with the BSMSS (estimate = 0.31, standard error [SE] = 0.10, p=0.003) at pFDR<0.05 but measures of basic reading and math were not (all pFDR>0.05).In contrast, reduced intellectual functioning was associated with increased poverty rates (Estimate=-0.29, SE=0.09, p=0.003), increased unemployment rates (estimate=-0.43, SE=0.18, p=0.018), increased access to food nutrition services (Estimate=-0.21, SE=0.09, p=0.015), and decreased percentage of individuals with a bachelor's degree (Estimate=0.33, SE=0.10, p=0.003) at pFDR<0.05. Measures of basic reading and math were not associated with any of the community-level variables. Stepwise linear regression analysis showed that the BSMSS (Estimate=0.22, SE=0.11, p=0.04) and poverty rates (Estimate=-0.18, SE=0.09, p=0.049) are independently associated with full scale IQ after adjusting for age, sickle genotype and hydroxyurea exposure. Overall, community and familial socioeconomic factors accounted for greater variance in intellectual functioning than age, genotype, and hydroxyurea treatment exposure (see Figure 1).Social determinants at the community-level contribute to intellectual development in patients with SCD independent of familial socioeconomic status. Surprisingly, academic performance was not associated with community-level social determinants. Evaluation of community-level social determinants may provide insights into potential targets for neurodevelopmental interventions. [Display omitted] DisclosuresEstepp: Global Blood Therapeutics: Consultancy, Research Funding. Hankins: Bluebird Bio: Consultancy; UpToDate: Consultancy; Global Blood Therapeutics: Consultancy; Vindico Medical Education: Consultancy.

Occupational prestige and sickness absence inequality in Sweden: a registry-based study

Abstract Background Socioeconomic position has been linked to sickness absence (SA). However, less is known about the role of occupational prestige, a measure of social status afforded by one's occupation, in SA. To expand knowledge on socioeconomic determinants of SA and on gender differences in SA, this study aimed to investigate the association between occupational prestige and SA and the distribution of the association in women and men. The study also aimed to analyze the effects of intersections of gender and occupational prestige on SA. Methods The study was based on data of 97 397 employed individuals aged 25-59 years selected from the 2004, 2007 and 2010 waves of the Swedish Labour Force Survey. Baseline occupational prestige was measured with the Standard International Occupational Prestige Scale. Information on SA was retrieved from the national register. Two measures of SA were defined: the number of SA days in any particular year during a 3-year follow-up and long-term (&amp;gt;120 days) SA based on data of participants with at least one sick leave spell during the follow-up. Results Working in lower prestige occupations was associated with increased SA among women and men. The association was independent of other socioeconomic indicators, such as income, education, and occupational class. In the intersectional analysis, women regardless of prestige level and men in lower prestige occupations had higher probability of SA compared with men in high prestige occupations. Women in high prestige occupations had the highest absenteeism rates (IRR, 2.25, 95%CI, 2.20-2.31), while men in medium prestige occupations had the lowest rates (IRR, 1.17, 95%CI, 1.13-1.20). Compared with the rest of the groups, men in low and medium prestige occupations had higher odds for long-term absence. Conclusions Women, regardless of occupational prestige level, and men in lower occupational prestige had an increased risk of sickness absence. Key messages Occupational prestige was associated with sickness absence in women and men. There is need to pay close attention to occupational prestige as a factor that may influence health and labor market participation.

Growing up unequal: Objective and subjective economic disparities and authoritarian parenting

BackgroundAlthough there is evidence of economic disparities in parents' financial and time investments in children, little existing empirical work has considered the disparities in authoritarian parenting, a risk for child maltreatment. Similarly, existing research has largely focused on the role of objective markers of socioeconomic status (SES), although perceived subjective social status (SSS) may be equally powerful in shaping disparities in parenting behaviors. DataThis article draws on 30 years of General Social Survey data to examine the association between objective socioeconomic status and subjective social status and parents' endorsement of authoritarian parenting practices. MethodsWe model the association between parents' SES and SSS and approval of authoritarian parenting practices estimated with odds ratios from logistic regressions and examine parental race as a potential moderator. ResultsWe find that SES and SSS are both associated with increased odds of endorsing authoritarian parenting, that SSS-based disparities are independent of SES, and that white parents' parenting may be more influenced by both SES and SSS than Black parents' parenting. ConclusionsThis work provides evidence that SES not only drives gaps in parental investments in children, but also gaps in their endorsement of authoritarian parenting. This is important because authoritarian parenting is not only directly associated with adverse outcomes for children, but is also associated with an increased risk for child maltreatment. It also expands the existing literature by showing that subjective measures of social status are important and distinct from objective measures of SES, and that these associations vary by race.

Race and Ideology in a Pandemic: White Privilege and Patterns of Risk Perception during COVID-19

Drawing on a unique survey dataset of Californians collected during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, this article examines how race and ideology shape perceptions of risk. Specifically, we position the pandemic as an “unsettled time” (Swidler 1986) and examine how different racialized groups made sense of the economic and health risks posed during this unprecedented period. We find that even when accounting for economic precarity and potential exposure to COVID-19, as well as for various other measures of social status, racialized minorities felt significantly more threatened by COVID-19 than did whites. Religion and political ideology mediated this relationship to some degree, but the racialized differences were substantial. Indeed, we find that even the most liberal whites reported being significantly less concerned about some COVID-19 risks than the most politically conservative of our Latinx and Black respondents. By linking the literature on race and racial stratification with research on risk and culture, we argue that whiteness facilitates a cognitive insulating effect vis-à-vis COVID-19 risks. We discuss the theoretical implications of our findings and conclude by highlighting the enduring importance of racialization, including various manifestations of white privilege, when assessing the social and cultural realities of crises on the ground.

The Heterarchy of Occupational Status: Evidence for Diverse Logics of Prestige in the United States*

How do people perceive the status hierarchy? Stratification and inequality scholars have tended to assume that everyone perceives the status hierarchy the same way, using a single materialist logic—as a homoarchy. However, an emerging perspective from the study of culture posits that our view of the status hierarchy is shaped by our position within that hierarchy, suggesting that people using multiple, diverse logics—a heterarchy. This study provides the first test of these two frameworks using a classic measure of social status, occupational prestige, and new techniques for measuring and analyzing logics from culture and cognition. To do so, I analyze data from the 2012 General Social Survey module on occupational prestige judgments, which I link to individual‐level characteristics from the GSS as well as federal occupation‐level data. Results provide strong support for the existence of status heterarchy: I find evidence for at least four distinct ways of constructing the hierarchy of occupations in the United States. Furthermore, which hierarchy a person perceives is a function of their location in social space. I argue that this heterogeneity in perceptions of the status hierarchy entails implications for polarization, anti‐elitism, and populism in the contemporary United States.

Association of Subjective Social Status With Life's Simple 7s Cardiovascular Health Index Among Hispanic/Latino People: Results From the HCHS/SOL

BackgroundEvidence suggests that subjective (perceived) social status (SSS) may predict health outcomes more strongly than objective social status, but little is known about the relationship between SSS and cardiovascular health (CVH). This study focuses on this relationship among diverse Hispanic/Latino adults because while poor CVH profiles are prevalent in this population, immigration complicates attempts to measure their social status.Methods and ResultsWe analyzed baseline HCHS/SOL (Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos) data on 15 374 Hispanic/Latino adults aged 18 to 74 years in 2008 to 2011. SSS was assessed using the McArthur Scale, a 10‐rung “social ladder.” CVH was based on levels of 7 metrics defined by the American Heart Association. Linear and logistic regressions were used to examine cross‐sectional associations of SSS with CVH (overall and single metrics) after adjusting for objective social status, demographic, and health factors. Less than half of the population (46%) had Ideal scores in ≥4 metrics of CVH. In multivariable‐adjusted models, an increase in SSS was associated with a higher overall CVH score (β=0.04; 95% CI, 0.01–0.06) and greater likelihood of Ideal levels of body mass index, physical activity, and fasting blood glucose levels. Nativity and time in the United States modified the association between SSS and Ideal smoking.ConclusionsSubjective measures of social status can enhance an understanding of CVH among Hispanic/Latino people. Future studies should explore the stability of SSS over time in comparison with objective social status and the mechanisms through which SSS may influence CVH.

Evaluating the Performance of Five Asset-based Wealth Indices in Predicting Socioeconomic Position in Rural Bangladesh

Social scientists have developed numerous asset-based wealth indices to assess and target socioeconomic inequalities globally. However, there are no systematic studies of the relative performance of these different measures as proxies for socioeconomic position. In this study, we compare how five asset-based wealth indices—the International Wealth Index (IWI), the Standard of Living portion of the Multi-Dimensional Poverty Index (MPI-SL), the Poverty Probability Index (PPI), the Absolute Wealth Estimate (AWE), and the DHS Wealth Index (DHS)—predict benchmarks of socioeconomic position across 11 communities in rural Bangladesh. All indices were highly correlated. The IWI best explained variation in individual and community ranking of economic well-being, while the PPI best explained variation both between and within communities for total household wealth and a general measure of subjective social status.