Subjective Social Status in Transitioning China: Trends and Determinants

ObjectiveThis 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. MethodsUsing 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 ConclusionResults 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.