scholarly journals Social Mobility, Health and Wellbeing in Poland

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olga Zelinska ◽  
Alexi Gugushvili ◽  
Grzegorz Bulczak
Keyword(s):  
Social Mobility ◽  
Psychological Wellbeing ◽  
Panel Survey ◽  
Occupational Class ◽  
Class Mobility ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Professional Class ◽  
Sociodemographic Determinants ◽  
Communist Countries

Recently there has been a surge of interest in the consequences of intergenerational social mobility on individuals’ health and wellbeing outcomes. However, studies on the effects of social mobility on health, using high-quality panel survey data, have almost exclusively been conducted in Western welfare democracies. To account for this gap, and using empirical data from one of the largest and most eventful post-communist countries, Poland, in this study we investigate how individuals’ origin and destination socio-economic position and social mobility are linked to self-rated health and reported psychological wellbeing. We use the Polish Panel Survey (POLPAN) data to construct self-rated health and psychological wellbeing measures, origin, destination and occupational class mobility variables, and account for an extensive set of sociodemographic determinants of health. We employ diagonal reference models to distinguish social mobility effects from origin and destination effects, and account for possible health selection mechanisms. Our results suggest that there is an occupational class gradient in health in Poland and that both parental and own occupational class matter for individual health outcomes. We also find a positive reported psychological wellbeing effect for upward social mobility from the working to the professional class.

scholarly journals Intergenerational Social Mobility and Self-Rated Health in Europe

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Präg ◽  
Alexi Gugushvili
Keyword(s):  
Social Class ◽  
Social Mobility ◽  
Occupational Class ◽  
Class Mobility ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
National Differences ◽  
Societal Level ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Communist Countries ◽  
Cross National

Occupational class and health are closely linked, however the health consequences of intergenerational social class mobility have not yet been systematically explored. A long tradition of research on individuals’ class mobility and health reports mixed or no effects, however cross-national differences have rarely been tested comprehensively. Further, recent studies show that intergenerational social class mobility at the societal level is beneficial for population health. Using representative survey data from 30 European countries (N = 159,591), we present the first study to investigate the role that intergenerational class mobility both at the individual and societal level play for self-rated health. We find that, apart from four post-communist countries, neither downward nor upward mobility is significantly and systematically related to poor self-rated health. There is also no association between societal-level social mobility and the prevalence of poor self-rated health across the 30 societies. Results are robust to alternative specifications and suggest that individuals’ own social class and partially their parents’ social class are primary explanations of health rather than their mobility experiences between origins and destinations.

scholarly journals Intragenerational Social Mobility and Wellbeing in Great Britain. A Biomarker Approach

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Präg ◽  
Nina-Sophie Fritsch ◽  
Lindsay Richards
Keyword(s):  
Social Mobility ◽  
Social Theory ◽  
Allostatic Load ◽  
Occupational Class ◽  
Downward Mobility ◽  
Null Results ◽  
Class Mobility ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Outright Rejection ◽  
The Uk

Social theory has long predicted that social mobility, in particular downward social mobility, is detrimental to the wellbeing of individuals. Dissociative and ‘falling from grace’ theories suggest that mobility is stressful due to the weakening of social ties, feelings of alienation, and loss of status. In light of these theories, it is a puzzle that the majority of quantitative studies in this area have shown null results. Our approach to resolve the puzzle is twofold. First, we argue for a broader conception of the mobility process than is often used and thus focus on intragenerational occupational class mobility rather than restricting ourselves to the more commonly studied intergenerational mobility. Second, we argue that self-reported measures may be biased by habituation (or ‘entrenched deprivation’). Using nurse-collected health and biomarker data from the UK Household Longitudinal Study (UKHLS, 2010–12, N = 4,123), we derive a measure of allostatic load as an objective gauge of physiological ‘wear and tear,’ and compare patterns of mobility effects with self-reports of health using diagonal reference models. Our findings indicate a strong class gradient in both allostatic load and self-rated health, and that both first and current job matter for current wellbeing outcomes. However, in terms of the effects of mobility itself, we find that intragenerational social mobility is consequential for allostatic load, but not for self-rated health. Downward mobility is detrimental and upward mobility beneficial for wellbeing as assessed by allostatic load. Thus, these findings do not support the idea of generalized stress from dissociation, but they do support the ‘falling from grace’ hypothesis of negative downward mobility effects. Our findings have a further implication, namely that the differences in mobility effects between the objective and subjective outcome infer the presence of entrenched deprivation. Null results in studies of self-rated outcomes may therefore be a methodological artifact, rather than an outright rejection of decades-old social theory.

Occupational class inequalities in disability retirement after hospitalisation

2017 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 331-339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olli Pietiläinen ◽  
Mikko Laaksonen ◽  
Eero Lahelma ◽  
Aino Salonsalmi ◽  
Ossi Rahkonen
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Diseases ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Musculoskeletal Disorders ◽  
Hazard Ratio ◽  
Malignant Neoplasms ◽  
Occupational Class ◽  
Disability Retirement ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Professional Class

Aims: This study aimed to investigate whether hospitalisation is associated with increased risk of disability retirement differently across four occupational classes. Methods: 170,510 employees of the City of Helsinki, Finland were followed from 1990 to 2013 using national registers for hospitalisations and disability retirement. Increases in the risk of disability retirement after hospitalisation for any cause, cardiovascular diseases, musculoskeletal disorders, mental disorders, malignant neoplasms, respiratory diseases and injuries were assessed across four occupational classes: professional, semi-professional, routine non-manual and manual, using competing risks models. Results: In general, hospitalisation showed a slightly more increased risk of disability retirement in the lower ranking occupational classes. Hospitalisation among women for mental disorders showed a more increased risk in the professional class (hazard ratio 14.73, 95% confidence interval 12.67 to 17.12) compared to the routine manual class (hazard ratio 7.27, 95% confidence interval 6.60 to 8.02). Occupational class differences were similar for men and women. The risk of disability retirement among women increased most in the routine non-manual class after hospitalisation for musculoskeletal disorders and injuries, and most in the professional class after hospitalisation for cardiovascular diseases. The corresponding risks among men increased most in the two lowest ranking classes after hospitalisation for injuries. Conclusions: Ill-health as measured by hospitalisation affected disability retirement in four occupational classes differently, and the effects also varied by the diagnostic group of hospitalisation. Interventions that tackle work disability should consider the impact of ill-health on functioning while taking into account working conditions in each occupational class.

scholarly journals Identifying key targets for interventions to improve psychological wellbeing: replicable results from four UK cohorts

2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (14) ◽  
pp. 2389-2396 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Stochl ◽  
E. Soneson ◽  
A.P. Wagner ◽  
G.M. Khandaker ◽  
I. Goodyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Public Mental Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Wellbeing ◽  
Self Perception ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
Self Confidence ◽  
Mental Health Interventions ◽  
Mental Well Being ◽  
Signal Improvement

AbstractBackgroundAn increasing importance is being placed on mental health and wellbeing at individual and population levels. While there are several interventions that have been proposed to improve wellbeing, more evidence is needed to understand which aspects of wellbeing are most influential. This study aimed to identify key items that signal improvement of mental health and wellbeing.MethodsUsing network analysis, we identified the most central items in the graph network estimated from the well-established Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS). Results were compared across four major UK cohorts comprising a total of 47,578 individuals: the Neuroscience in Psychiatry Network, the Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey, the Northern Ireland Health Survey, and the National Child Development Study.ResultsRegardless of gender, the three items most central in the network were related to positive self-perception and mood: ‘I have been feeling good about myself’; ‘I have been feeling confident’; and ‘I have been feeling cheerful’. Results were consistent across all four cohorts.ConclusionsPositive self-perception and positive mood are central to psychological wellbeing. Psychotherapeutic and public mental health interventions might best promote psychological wellbeing by prioritising the improvement of self-esteem, self-confidence and cheerfulness. However, empirical testing of interventions using these key targets is needed.

Exploring the health and wellbeing benefits of gardening for older adults

2014 ◽  
Vol 35 (10) ◽  
pp. 2176-2200 ◽  
Author(s):  
THERESA L. SCOTT ◽  
BARBARA M. MASSER ◽  
NANCY A. PACHANA
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Word Association ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Psychological Wellbeing ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
Therapeutic Benefits ◽  
Open Questions ◽  
Leisure Pursuit ◽  
Casual Leisure

ABSTRACTResearch shows that contact with nature plays a vital role in our psychological wellbeing. Domestic gardening is common among older adults who spend more leisure hours gardening than any other age group. Despite this, few studies have systematically explored the significance of domestic gardens in relation to older adults' health and wellbeing. This study examined the perceived therapeutic benefits of gardening, and the effect of ageing in relation to older gardeners' continued participation in gardening, using quantitative and qualitative data from a survey of Australian older adult gardeners (N=331). The quantitative data, which included frequencies, were analysed using the PASW Statistics 18.0 package. The qualitative data, which included participants' responses to open questions, were analysed by deriving themes via Leximancer, an innovative text analytics software that uses word association information to elicit concepts, extracting the most important and grouping these according to themes. In relation to the reasons for gardening, several themes were identified including valuing the aesthetics of gardens, connecting with nature, achievement, and physical and mental activity. The benefits of gardening, and the variety of ways that respondents had adapted or modified their gardening activities in order to continue, are also reported. Gardening was more than a casual leisure pursuit for these participants, who saw it as critical to their physical and psychological wellbeing.

scholarly journals Subjective social mobility and health: Mind over matter?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Präg ◽  
Alexi Gugushvili
Keyword(s):  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Social Mobility ◽  
Socioeconomic Position ◽  
Occupational Status ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
Subjective Perceptions ◽  
Status Mobility ◽  
The Life Course ◽  
Subjective Appraisals

One’s current socioeconomic position is intimately tied to one’s health status. Further, childhood living conditions also exert lasting effects on the health of adults. However, studies on changes in one’s socioeconomic position over the life course rarely find important effects of social mobility for individual health and wellbeing. Such studies always draw on objective measures of social mobility and do not consider subjective appraisals of social mobility by individuals themselves. Using cross-sectional, representative German survey data, we explore the question as to how subjective perceptions as opposed to objective accounts of occupational status mobility affect five self-reported health and wellbeing outcomes differently. We show that objective and subjective accounts of social mobility overlap, yet this association is far from perfect. Further, there are relatively small associations between objective and subjective mobility accounts and health outcomes. Associations between subjective mobility perceptions and health outcomes are intriguingly independent of objective social mobility trajectories. Mismatches between objective and subjective mobility are also correlated with some health outcomes. We discuss implications of our finding that social mobility is associated with those aspects of health which are more closely related to psychological wellbeing rather than physical health.

scholarly journals Therianthropy: Wellbeing, Schizotypy, and Autism in Individuals Who Self-Identify as Non-Human

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 403-426
Author(s):  
Helen Clegg ◽  
Roz Collings ◽  
Elizabeth C. Roxburgh
Keyword(s):  
Social Relationships ◽  
Social Factors ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Cognitive Factors ◽  
Psychological Wellbeing ◽  
Autism Spectrum Quotient ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
Human Animal ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractTherianthropy is the belief that one is at least part non-human animal. This study aimed to address the dichotomization surrounding therianthropy in relation to mental health and wellbeing. One hundred and twelve therians and 265 non-therians completed Ryff’s Scales of Psychological Wellbeing, the O-LIFE questionnaire, and the Autism Spectrum Quotient. The results showed that therians scored lower on variables that are associated with positive social relationships. Such findings may be explained by cognitive factors and/or social factors that are associated with the stigmatization of cross-species identities. However, being a therian moderated the relationship between both autism and introverted anhedonia in relation to autonomy. Thus, a therian identity may act as a protective factor for those experiencing higher levels of autism and schizotypy.

scholarly journals The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the wellbeing of Irish Men’s Shed members

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aisling McGrath ◽  
Niamh Murphy ◽  
Noel Richardson
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Health Promotion Program ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
The Impact

Summary COVID-19 disproportionately affects males especially those who are older and more socio-economically disadvantaged. This study assessed wellbeing outcomes among men’s shed members (Shedders) in Ireland at baseline (T1), 3 (T2), 6 (T3) and 12 months (T4) in response to a 10-week health promotion program ‘Sheds for Life’ (SFL). Two cohorts participated in SFL commencing in March and September 2019. This study compares the T3 findings from one cohort carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic [COVID cohort (n = 185)] with T3 findings from a comparator cohort [pre-COVID cohort (n = 195)], completed pre-COVID-19. Questionnaires assessing wellbeing [life satisfaction, mental health, loneliness, physical activity (PA), self-rated health and other lifestyle measures] were analyzed in both cohorts T1, T2 and T3. Self-rated Health and life satisfaction decreased in the COVID cohort at T3 (p < 0.001), while loneliness scores increased (p < 0.0005). Higher loneliness scores were correlated with lower health ratings, life satisfaction and PA during COVID-19 (p < 0.001). Days PA decreased in the COVID cluster at T3 from T2 (p < 0.01) with those in urban areas reporting lower activity levels than rural areas (p < 0.05). Those sufficiently active at baseline managed to maintain PA during COVID-19 while those not meeting guidelines were more likely to report decreases (p < 0.001). Shedders experiencing COVID-19 restrictions are at an increased risk of poorer wellbeing and increased levels of loneliness. Support and guidance are needed to safely encourage this cohort back into men’s sheds, settings that protect against loneliness and positively promote health and wellbeing. Lay summary The COVID-19 pandemic will have wide-reaching implications on wellbeing, particularly on those who are older and more vulnerable. Evidence also suggests that COVID-19 disproportionately affects males. This study aimed to understand the impact that COVID-19 has had on men in the setting of Men’s Sheds in Ireland. Two cohorts of men who were participating in a 10-week health and wellbeing program (Sheds for Life) at different stages were followed over time. At 6 months follow-up the first Cohort had not experienced COVID-19 whereas the second cohort was actively experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic. We measured wellbeing using questionnaires, comparing both groups of men for differences. We found that the men who were experiencing COVID-19 had lower self-rated health, physical activity and life satisfaction as well as higher rates of loneliness, with those who were more lonely reporting lower wellbeing scores. We also found that men in rural areas were more physically active during COVID-19 and that those were not active were more likely to become more inactive during COVID-19. This study suggests that support and guidance is needed to safely encourage this cohort back into Men’s Sheds, settings that protect against loneliness and positively promote health and wellbeing.

Gatekeeping Stories of Dissent and Mobility

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 155-168
Author(s):  
Rafael Pérez-Torres
Keyword(s):  
Social Change ◽  
Social Mobility ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Upward Mobility ◽  
Literary Texts ◽  
Ethnic Identification ◽  
Class Mobility ◽  
The Us ◽  
Upward Social Mobility ◽  
And Control

Abstract Three recent studies meditate on the significance of narratives by and about racial subjects and exiled radicals in an age of increased social surveillance and control. Elda María Román in Race and Upward Mobility (2017) analyzes popular stories about racially or ethnically identified characters who, seeking upward social mobility, face a quandary. They try to sustain an empowering sense of racial affiliation while seeking to gain upward social and class mobility. Permissible Narratives (2017) by Christopher González analyzes how the form taken by narratives about racial and class affiliation serves to mark ethnic identification. Latinx literary texts that do not follow prescribed forms deliberately undo aesthetic norms and thus enact a kind of transgressive Latinidad. Where the US forms the sociocultural parameters of these two books, Teresa V. Longo’s Visible Dissent (2018) considers the sociocultural interchanges between the US and Latin American writers who articulate a literature of opposition, resistance, and dissent against repressive forms of social and political control. Each study weighs a hope for transformative social change against the power of the efficient, impersonal, even brutal management that comprises modernity.

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