title: Do Adults Adjust their Socioeconomic Status Identity in Later Life?*
abstract: Previous research shows that socioeconomic status (SES) identity, also referred to as perceived or subjective social status, is shaped by objective measures of status, socio-cultural influences and psychological attributes and predicts current and future well-being. Prior studies, however, have not examined whether older adults reassess their SES identity over time. In this study, we use two assessments of subjective social status measured six years apart in a sample of older Taiwanese adults to: 1) determine the degree to which respondents adjust their perceptions of social rank; and 2) identify the characteristics of individuals who are most likely to revise their assessments. We find that many older Taiwanese adults reassess their SES identity, but most respondents show small to moderate levels of change. Females, more highly educated respondents, and those who have a positive economic outlook tend to revise their subjective social status upward relative to their respective counterparts; those who become widowed during the period adjust their rankings downward compared with those who do not become widowed. These findings suggest that SES identity may be dynamic, highlighting the importance of collecting information on socioeconomic status identity at multiple points in the life course.
authors: Jennifer C. Cornman Consulting.
authors: Jennifer C
authors: JC
authors: Cornman
authors: Noreen
authors: N
authors: Goldman
authors: Amy Love
authors: AL
authors: Collins
authors: Dana A
authors: DA
authors: Glei
authors: Baai-Shyun
authors: BS
authors: Hurng
authors: Maxine
authors: M
authors: Weinstein
keywords: Taiwan; older adults; subjective social status
references: J Cross Cult Gerontol. 1994 Apr;9(2):127-40
references: 24390046
references: Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 1999 Aug;14(8):608-17
references: 10489651
references: J Health Soc Behav. 1978 Mar;19(1):2-21
references: 649936
references: Health Psychol. 2000 Nov;19(6):586-92
references: 11129362
references: Soc Sci Med. 2008 Feb;66(3):536-44
references: 18037202
references: J Cross Cult Gerontol. 1986 Mar;1(1):31-49
references: 24390769
references: Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2005 Jul;30(6):582-90
references: 15808928
references: Psychosom Med. 2005 Nov-Dec;67(6):855-61
references: 16314589
references: Soc Sci Med. 2003 Mar;56(6):1321-33
references: 12600368
references: J Cross Cult Gerontol. 2006 Mar-Jun;21(1-2):71-89
references: 17106645
references: Soc Sci Med. 2008 Jul;67(2):330-40
references: 18440111
references: J Adolesc Health. 2007 Nov;41(5):479-87
references: 17950168
references: Soc Sci Med. 2008 Mar;66(5):1034-45
references: 18180089
references: J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2005 Oct;60 Spec No 2:15-26
references: 16251586
references: Women Health. 2008;48(2):209-34
references: 19042217
references: J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2004 May;13(4):393-403
references: 15186656
references: J Econ Perspect. 1999 Spring;13(2):144-66
references: 15179962
references: Soc Sci Med. 2006 Aug;63(3):788-804
references: 16580107
references: J Am Geriatr Soc. 2005 Mar;53(3):483-8
references: 15743294
references: J Cross Cult Gerontol. 1993 Jan;8(1):49-69
references: 24389756
references: Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2005 May;20(5):465-70
references: 15852439