Perceived Scarcity Across Sociodemographic Backgrounds Predicts Self-Reported Health

Abstract

Abstract. Background: Perceived scarcity shows promise as an indicator of physical and mental health and a possible predictor of health disparities; however, a systematic investigation of how perceived scarcity is experienced across racial and ethnic, gender, and socioeconomic groups is imperative. Moreover, it is necessary to unpack the unique predictive power of each scarcity domain. Aims: First, differences in the experience of perceived scarcity by various sociodemographic groups in overall perceived scarcity and each of its three dimensions were explored using a cross-sectional sample. Next, using self-reported health outcome data collected from participants at a second time point, the direct and mediating role of perceived scarcity in the relationship between sociodemographic indicators and self-reported health was examined. Method: Participants included a racially and socioeconomically diverse online sample. One-way analyses of variance (ANOVAs) and t-tests were used to assess whether perceived scarcity, overall and by domain, varied by sociodemographic factors. PROCESS macro for SPSS v 3.5 was used to analyze the proposed direct effects and mediations. Results: Results indicate that sociodemographic differences do exist in perceived scarcity and in a variety of ways that may not be reflected when solely examining overall perceived scarcity. Dimensions of perceived scarcity were found to mediate the relationship between some sociodemographic factors and self-reported health. Limitations: Future research should address the limitations of the current study’s sample insofar as recruiting a wider sample of participants to include those experiencing the most extreme forms of scarcity. Conclusion: Findings support the importance of considering the unique experience of perceived scarcity by domain across sociodemographic groups when using it as a predictor or mediator of health.

Unity or Estrangement Under Crises? Perceived Resource Scarcity Moderates the Effect of a Common Threat on Intergroup Cooperation

“…Perceived resource scarcity is defined as a subjective sense of having less than needed (Mullainathan & Shafir, 2013). Unlike hardship, perceived resource scarcity may stem not only from objectively lacking resources but also from people subjectively feeling that they have too little (DeSousa & Rego, 2022). For example, financially well-off people also feel that their resources are scarce when compared with richer people (Mullainathan & Shafir, 2013; Yang & Zhang, 2022).…”

Women's Preferences for Masculinity in Male Faces Are Predicted by Material Scarcity, But Not Time or Psychological Scarcity

“…For instance, individuals who experience resource scarcity often face additional time pressures (time scarcity), or lack interpersonal or intrapersonal resources (e.g., social support, self-efficacy; psychological scarcity). Indeed, conceptualising scarcity comprising of several dimensions has been useful in the field of health psychology for accurately predicting perceived stress, health, quality of life, and mental health ( DeSousa et al, 2018 ; DeSousa et al, 2020 ; DeSousa & Rego, 2022 ). Applying this model of scarcity to research investigating mate choice may provide insight into the exact selection pressures that may motivate shifts in preferences, and whether previously identified effects for facial masculinity preferences are specific to material scarcity (and therefore reinforcing the theory that sexual dimorphism is used as a cue for resource provisioning potential), or potentially due to another domain of scarcity, or scarcity more generally.…”