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Subjective Social Status in Transitioning China: Trends and Determinants

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  • Yunsong Chen
  • Mark Williams

Abstract

Objective This study provides the first representative portrait of temporal trends in subjective social status (SSS) in China. SSS has been shown to be important for health and well‐being outcomes, yet little is known how its determinants change over time. Methods Using data from 10 nationally representative survey waves, 2003 to 2012 (N = 80,141), we examine descriptive and multivariate trends. Oaxaca‐Blinder decomposition is used to decompose changes in determinants in mean SSS over time. Results and Conclusion Results demonstrate that (1) average SSS has risen over time, yet there is an enduring tendency for the Chinese to place themselves in lowest levels in the social hierarchy; (2) objective socioeconomic variables such as income explain much of the rise in average SSS; (3) yet the strength of the relationship between socioeconomic variables predicting SSS has been weakening over time. This article adds to our understanding of the determinants of SSS in contexts undergoing transition.

Suggested Citation

  • Yunsong Chen & Mark Williams, 2018. "Subjective Social Status in Transitioning China: Trends and Determinants," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 99(1), pages 406-422, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:socsci:v:99:y:2018:i:1:p:406-422
    DOI: 10.1111/ssqu.12401
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Azizur Rahman Khan & Keith Griffin & Carl Riskin & Zhao Renwei, 1993. "Household Income and its Distribution in China," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Keith Griffin & Zhao Renwei (ed.), The Distribution of Income in China, chapter 1, pages 25-73, Palgrave Macmillan.
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    3. Sawako SHIRAHASE, 2010. "Japan as a Stratified Society: With a Focus on Class Identification," Social Science Japan Journal, University of Tokyo and Oxford University Press, vol. 13(1), pages 31-52.
    4. Kim, Jae-Hyun & Lee, Sang Gyu & Shin, Jaeyong & Park, Eun-Cheol, 2014. "Impact of the gap between socioeconomic stratum and subjective social class on depressive symptoms: Unique insights from a longitudinal analysis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 49-56.
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    1. Naoki Sudo, 2021. "Two Latent Groups Influencing Subjective Social Status: Middle Class Tendency and Clear Class Consciousness," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 158(3), pages 1045-1064, December.
    2. Hao, Fei & Xiao, Honggen, 2021. "Residential tourism and eudaimonic well-being: A ‘value-adding’ analysis," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    3. Frederich Kirsten & Ilse Botha & Mduduzi Biyase & Marinda Pretorius, 2023. "Determinants of Subjective Social Status in South Africa," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 168(1), pages 1-24, August.
    4. Xiao Yu & Sixiang Cai & Xiaotong Yang & Yipu Cao & Wei Jiang, 2025. "Social status, hukou conversion and upwards class mobility: evidence from Chinese rural‒urban migrants," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-15, December.
    5. Hong Zou & Qianqian Xiong & Hongwei Xu, 2020. "Does Subjective Social Status Predict Self-Rated Health in Chinese Adults and Why?," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 152(2), pages 443-471, November.
    6. Lu Chen & Miaoting Cheng, 2022. "Exploring Chinese Elderly’s Trust in the Healthcare System: Empirical Evidence from a Population-Based Survey in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-16, December.
    7. Niu, Zhiyong & Zhou, Xiaoyan & Pei, Hongzhou, 2021. "Effect of perceived status of entrepreneur on firm's CSR behavior: Evidence from Chinese private enterprises survey," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 39(C).

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