The Mediating Effect of Community Identity between Socioeconomic Status and Sense of Gain in Chinese Adults

Abstract

Background: Several studies have explored the positive relationship between socioeconomic status and sense of gain. However, little is known about the underlying mechanism between them. This study aimed to explore whether community identity had a mediating role between them among Chinese adults. Methods: Data were collected from a nationally representative samples of 28,300 adults from the China Family Panel Studies. Socioeconomic status was assessed using individuals' income and social status. Community identity was assessed through evaluation of the community's public facilities, surrounding environment, surrounding security, neighborhood relationship, neighborhood assistance and feelings towards the community. Sense of gain was measured by evaluation of environmental conservation, gap between the rich and the poor, employment, education, medical treatment, housing, social security, and government corruption. Pearson's correlation was used to examine the associations between major variables. Mediation analyses were performed to explore the mediating role of community identity between socioeconomic status and sense of gain. Results: Socioeconomic status was positively associated with sense of gain. Community identity played a mediating role between socioeconomic status and sense of gain. Conclusion: Community identity mediated the relationship between socioeconomic status and sense of gain. Promoting the mobility of socioeconomic status and actively intervening in community identity are conducive to improve sense of gain. political sense of gain, security sense of gain and self-realization sense of gain. Studies have reported there is positive associations between sense of gain and cognition and psychological health, such as well-being [5,6], government trust [2,7], andperception of social stability [8]. Therefore, exploring how to enhance individuals' sense of gain contributes to national stability and psychological health.Socioeconomic status is a social classification used to reflect the relative position of an individual in the social hierarchy, which is composed of objective material resources (often measured by income, education level, and occupational status), and subjectively perceived social status [9,10]. Socioeconomic status affects every aspects of an individual's life, including sense of gain. For example, Wang [11] found that the increase of socioeconomic status was often accompanied by the improvement of sense of gain. Specifically, upper-middle status or upper-status residents have higher sense of gain than lower status residents. Wang, Tan, and Fu [12] also found that socioeconomic status had a significant and positive effect on sense of gain. Tan, Wang and Zhang [13] found significant differences in sense of gain among different educational levels and monthly income. Dou, Dong and Tan [14] found that there were positive relationship between subjective and objective socioeconomic status and sense of gain. There are also studies that provide indirect evidence for the relationship between socioec...

Community identity as a mediator of the relationship between socioeconomic status and altruistic behaviour in Chinese residents

“…Moreover, subjective status was positively related to community identity, which was consistent with the previous study (Wang et al, 2020). Objective status was not related to community identity.…”

“…The social cure perspective points out that group identity is significantly related to personal health and well‐being (Haslam et al, 2018; Steffens et al, 2019) and satisfaction with life (Greenaway et al, 2015), which are also associated with altruistic behaviour (Curry et al, 2018; Martela & Ryan, 2016; Son & Padilla‐Walker, 2019). Result in the study is also consistent with studies that demonstrate that community identity is positively related to both socioeconomic status (Wang et al, 2020) and altruistic behaviour (Gray & Stevenson, 2019; Van Vugt, 2001; Yang & Xin, 2016).…”

“…In a study of 346 residents recruited from five neighbourhoods in Beijing, results showed that the relationship between socioeconomic status and community identity was not significant (Xin & Ling, 2015). However, data from the China Family Panel Studies found socioeconomic status was positively related to community identity (Wang, Yang, Hu, & Chen, 2020). In addition, a series of studies conducted in chaotic conditions suggested that lower‐status Americans were more communally oriented, more connected to their community and more likely to volunteer for a community‐building project (Piff, Stancato, Martinez, Kraus, & Keltner, 2012).…”

“…In addition, the relationship between socioeconomic status and community identity is also controversial. Some studies show that there is positive (Wang et al, 2020), negative (Piff et al, 2010, 2012) and no correlation (Xin & Ling, 2015) between them. Therefore, to address this controversy, we also examined the relationship between socioeconomic status and community identity.…”

How Digital Business Penetration Influences Farmers’ Sense of Economic Gain: The Role of Farmers’ Entrepreneurial Orientation and Market Responsiveness

“…We refer to Wang et al [45] in measuring the SEG. Our scale consisted of eight items, including ''I never worry about not having a house to live in'' and ''My standard of living is similar to that of other villagers.''…”