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<p>Social status (i.e., the social standing of a person or group in the social hierarchy) is a ubiquitous feature of social life, and status perceptions have a profound influence on people’s well-being and health. Previous research suggests that age-related status perceptions resemble an inverted <i>U</i>-shaped curve: Midlife is typically associated with high social status, young and older adulthood with lower social status. We explored three distinct dimensions of social status, examining their variations across the adult lifespan and their relationships with negative emotions and depressive symptoms. Specifically, in our study including young, middle-aged, and older adults (<i>N</i> = 933, mean age = 53.38, SD = 16.26; range 18–84&#xa0;years), we focused on cross-sectional status trajectories of (a) age-based social status, (b) current subjective social status, and (c) anticipated social status and links with negative emotional experiences and depressive symptoms. Results highlight the dynamic and multidimensional nature of social status across the lifespan and reveal substantial age differences across these status dimensions. Furthermore, our results indicate a more pronounced negative association among middle-aged adults between current subjective socials status and the prevalence of negative emotions and depressive symptoms, in contrast to both younger and older adults. In our discussion, we explore different self-protective strategies that individuals may utilize to maintain a positive self-perception across the lifespan.</p>

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Stepping Up and Stepping Down: The Dynamic Nature of Social Status Across the Lifespan

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年7月4日

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  • David Weiss,
  • Tim Kuball

摘要

Social status (i.e., the social standing of a person or group in the social hierarchy) is a ubiquitous feature of social life, and status perceptions have a profound influence on people’s well-being and health. Previous research suggests that age-related status perceptions resemble an inverted U-shaped curve: Midlife is typically associated with high social status, young and older adulthood with lower social status. We explored three distinct dimensions of social status, examining their variations across the adult lifespan and their relationships with negative emotions and depressive symptoms. Specifically, in our study including young, middle-aged, and older adults (N = 933, mean age = 53.38, SD = 16.26; range 18–84 years), we focused on cross-sectional status trajectories of (a) age-based social status, (b) current subjective social status, and (c) anticipated social status and links with negative emotional experiences and depressive symptoms. Results highlight the dynamic and multidimensional nature of social status across the lifespan and reveal substantial age differences across these status dimensions. Furthermore, our results indicate a more pronounced negative association among middle-aged adults between current subjective socials status and the prevalence of negative emotions and depressive symptoms, in contrast to both younger and older adults. In our discussion, we explore different self-protective strategies that individuals may utilize to maintain a positive self-perception across the lifespan.