Status Value Theory and Diseases of Despair

Research has linked perceived deprivation with mental health and substance use trends that have disproportionately affected middle-aged non-Hispanic whites without a college degree in the U.S. However, the role of subjective aspects of deprivation in explaining variation by race and educational attainment remains understudied compared to traditional indicators of economic hardship.

This study integrates status value theory to provide a deeper understanding of the social and cultural roots of diseases of despair. The theory’s emphasis on the consensual nature of status beliefs illuminates why feelings of despair can become widespread within certain communities. Its consideration of the self-reinforcing nature of beliefs also helps contextualize why, for people in lower-valued status positions experiencing diminished opportunities, negative societal valuations may seem confirmed and strengthened and potentially exacerbate despair-related health issues.

This study extends research by examining the effects of perceived downward mobility alongside economic hardship indicators. Using data from the Life Experiences and Well-Being in Adults Study (N=1,343), we analyzed the impact of these factors on three key diseases of despair among middle-aged adults in the U.S.

Findings revealed that perceived downward mobility disproportionately affects middle-aged White Americans without a college degree across all outcomes. Additionally, greater economic stressor exposure was associated with each outcome and exacerbated symptoms among White Americans without a college degree compared to their Black American counterparts, but only in the context of higher perceived downward mobility.

This study advances previous work by demonstrating that subjective aspects of relative deprivation, understood through the lens of status value theory, play a crucial role in understanding the relationship between race, education, and despair-related health outcomes. Status value theory helps explain the findings by highlighting how the internalization of lower status valuations can lead to heightened feelings of worthlessness and despair.