Effects of objective and subjective indicators of economic inequality on subjective well-being: Underlying mechanisms

Journal article

Michela Vezzoli, Roberta Rosa Valtorta, Silvia Mari, Federica Durante, Chiara Volpato
Journal of Applied Social Psychology, vol. 53, 2023, pp. 85-100

DOI: 10.1111/jasp.12928

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APA Click to copy
Vezzoli, M., Valtorta, R. R., Mari, S., Durante, F., & Volpato, C. (2023). Effects of objective and subjective indicators of economic inequality on subjective well-being: Underlying mechanisms. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 53, 85–100. https://doi.org/10.1111/jasp.12928

Chicago/Turabian Click to copy
Vezzoli, Michela, Roberta Rosa Valtorta, Silvia Mari, Federica Durante, and Chiara Volpato. “Effects of Objective and Subjective Indicators of Economic Inequality on Subjective Well-Being: Underlying Mechanisms.” Journal of Applied Social Psychology 53 (2023): 85–100.

MLA Click to copy
Vezzoli, Michela, et al. “Effects of Objective and Subjective Indicators of Economic Inequality on Subjective Well-Being: Underlying Mechanisms.” Journal of Applied Social Psychology, vol. 53, 2023, pp. 85–100, doi:10.1111/jasp.12928.

BibTeX Click to copy

@article{michela2023a,
  title = {Effects of objective and subjective indicators of economic inequality on subjective well-being: Underlying mechanisms},
  year = {2023},
  journal = {Journal of Applied Social Psychology},
  pages = {85-100},
  volume = {53},
  doi = {10.1111/jasp.12928},
  author = {Vezzoli, Michela and Valtorta, Roberta Rosa and Mari, Silvia and Durante, Federica and Volpato, Chiara}
}

Abstract

Much research found that economic inequality - the dispersion of incomes distribution among individuals in a society - affects subjective well-being (SWB). As a meta-analysis has shown, the association between economic inequality, commonly measured by the Gini index, and individuals' SWB is weak and not significant. Psychosocial research suggests that the situational perception, rather than objective reality, has a greater impact on individuals. Our aim was to investigate whether and how objective and subjective measures of economic inequality affect the subjective individuals' well-being, both in its affective and cognitive components. A representative Italian sample (N= 1446, 51% women; average age = 42.42 years, SD = 12.87) answered an online survey. Multilevel regressions detected a negative and significant effect of the inequality perception on well-being. In contrast, the Gini index showed no effect. Two psychological mechanisms explain the association between perceived inequality and well-being: Perceived anger toward inequality and individuals' economic vulnerability. The parallel mediation models showed that the effect of perceived inequality is conveyed by cognitive (economic vulnerability) and emotional (anger) processing of inequality. Findings also highlighted the role of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.