Income Trajectory and Mental Health in Late Life

• In Event: 4266 - Section on Aging and the Life Course Refereed Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable 100min: 3. Cognitive and Mental Health

Abstract

By integrating the temporary comparison theory with the life course paradigm in health stratification research, this paper reveals a distinct vantage point that may further our understanding on the dynamics between socioeconomic status (SES) and health. According to the temporary comparison theory, status change may affect health through social comparison, which is independent of both SES per se and the accumulation of resources. To test this proposition, we conduct empirical analysis with data from the American Changing Lives (ACL) survey and the research design using group-based trajectory models to measure income mobility. The results show that income mobility trajectory has a significant impact on mental health even after measures on income and self-rated health are controlled for. The findings highlight the significance of the status change in health stratification research, demonstrate the values of integrating the temporal comparison theory into the life course paradigm, and provides an innovative methodological approach to delineate income ability with the group-based trajectory model.

Authors

• Feinuo Sun, SUNY Albany

• Han Liu, State University of New York at Albany