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Abstract
Whereas a great deal of literature has been devoted to investigating the link between
intergenerational social mobility and health, the few studies that have examined the
association between social mobility and life satisfaction have produced conflicting
findings. In the present study, we attempt to rectify several shortcomings common
to previous work by examining the association between intergenerational social mobility
and both life satisfaction and self-rated health as measured in later-life. Our sample
consisted of individuals born in Scotland in 1936, who took part in the Scottish Mental
Survey 1947 and were subsequently followed-up into later-life. Regression analyses
demonstrated that satisfaction with life at age 78 was not significantly predicted
by childhood or adulthood socioeconomic status, or by the amount of social mobility
experienced from parental occupational social class. In contrast, self-rated health
at age 78 was significantly predicted by adult socioeconomic status and by education,
but not by social mobility from parental occupational social class. These results
suggest that efforts to promote upwards social mobility may not result in better subjective
wellbeing, despite the apparent benefits for health.