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Stress at work: Differential experiences of high versus low SES workers

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  • Damaske, Sarah
  • Zawadzki, Matthew J.
  • Smyth, Joshua M.

Abstract

This paper asks whether workers with higher socioeconomic status (SES) experience different levels of stress at work than workers with lower SES and, if so, what might explain these differences. We collected innovative assessments of immediate objective and subjective measures of stress at multiple time points across consecutive days from 122 employed men and women. We find that in comparison to higher SES individuals, those with lower SES reported greater happiness at work, less self-reported stress, and less perceived stress; cortisol, a biological marker of stress, was unrelated to SES. Worker's momentary perceptions of the workplace were predicted by SES, with higher SES individuals more commonly reporting feeling unable to meet work demands, fewer work resources, and less positive work appraisals. In turn, perceptions of the workplace had a generally consistent and robust effect on positive mood, subjective stress, and cortisol.

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  • Damaske, Sarah & Zawadzki, Matthew J. & Smyth, Joshua M., 2016. "Stress at work: Differential experiences of high versus low SES workers," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 156(C), pages 125-133.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:156:y:2016:i:c:p:125-133
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.03.010
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    Cited by:

    1. Md Monirul Islam & Daisuke Ekuni & Toshiki Yoneda & Aya Yokoi & Manabu Morita, 2019. "Influence of Occupational Stress and Coping Style on Periodontitis among Japanese Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-9, September.
    2. Scott, Stacey B. & Munoz, Elizabeth & Mogle, Jacqueline A. & Gamaldo, Alyssa A. & Smyth, Joshua M. & Almeida, David M. & Sliwinski, Martin J., 2018. "Perceived neighborhood characteristics predict severity and emotional response to daily stressors," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 200(C), pages 262-270.
    3. Grace, Matthew K. & VanHeuvelen, Jane S., 2019. "Occupational variation in burnout among medical staff: Evidence for the stress of higher status," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 232(C), pages 199-208.
    4. Sasaki, Shusaku & Kurokawa, Hirofumi & Ohtake, Fumio, 2019. "Positive and negative effects of social status on longevity: Evidence from two literary prizes in Japan," Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 1-1.
    5. Bartoll, Xavier & Gil, Joan & Ramos, Raul, 2018. "Has the Economic Crisis Worsened the Work-Related Stress and Mental Health of Temporary Workers in Spain?," IZA Discussion Papers 11701, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    6. Shusaku Sasaki & Mika Akesaka & Hirofumi Kurokawa & Fumio Ohtake, 2016. "Positive and Negative Effects of Social Status on Longevity:Evidence from Two Literary Prizes in Japan," ISER Discussion Paper 0968, Institute of Social and Economic Research, Osaka University.
    7. Adam Hege & Michael K. Lemke & Yorghos Apostolopoulos & Brian Whitaker & Sevil Sönmez, 2019. "Work-Life Conflict among U.S. Long-Haul Truck Drivers: Influences of Work Organization, Perceived Job Stress, Sleep, and Organizational Support," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-19, March.
    8. Takaku, Reo, 2020. "Reversal pattern of health inequality: New evidence from a large-scale national survey in Japan," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 124(11), pages 1254-1262.
    9. Dahmann, Sarah C. & Schnitzlein, Daniel D., 2019. "No evidence for a protective effect of education on mental health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 241(C).

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