Social-class differences in self-concept clarity and their implications for well-being. (June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Na, Jinkyung; Chan, Micaela Y; Lodi-Smith, Jennifer; Park, Denise C
• Is Part Of: Journal of health psychology. Volume 23:Number 7(2018)
• Page Start: 951
• Page End: 960
• Publication Date: 2018-06
• Subjects: life satisfaction -- mental health -- physical health -- self-concept clarity -- social class; Clinical health psychology -- Periodicals; 613.019
• DOI: 10.1177/1359105316643597
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-1053

Abstract

A consistent/stable sense of the self is more valued in middle-class contexts than working-class contexts; hence, we predicted that middle-class individuals would have higher self-concept clarity than working-class individuals. It is further expected that self-concept clarity would be more important to one's well-being among middle-class individuals than among working-class individuals. Supporting these predictions, self-concept clarity was positively associated with higher social class. Moreover, although self-concept clarity was associated with higher life satisfaction and better mental health, the association significantly attenuated among working-class individuals. In addition, self-concept clarity was not associated with physical health and its association with physical health did not interact with social class.