Does perceived social mobility affect health? Evidence from a fixed effects approach

Area of Science:

• Sociology
• Public Health
• Psychology

Background:

• Socioeconomic position's impact on health is debated.
• Perception of social hierarchy correlates with health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate the effect of perceived social mobility on health.
• Analyze how an individual's appraisal of their social standing relative to parents influences health.

Main Methods:

• Utilized longitudinal data from the Polish Panel Survey.
• Employed a fixed effects approach to control for confounders.
• Examined self-reported physical health and psychological wellbeing.

Main Results:

• Perceived social mobility significantly predicts physical and psychological health.
• Upward subjective mobility shows a strong positive association with health.
• Effects are more pronounced in males and those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Conclusions:

• Supports the 'rags to riches' theory linking upward mobility to improved health via psychological pathways.
• Highlights the importance of subjective social mobility in health research.
• Recommends increased scholarly focus on the psychological aspects of social mobility and health.