Social mobility and subjective wellbeing

The role of social mobility in subjective wellbeing (SWB) is still rather under-researched. Investigating this complex relationship requires longitudinal research designs. However, panel datasets, particularly those with an international scope, are scarce. Sorokin's dissociative thesis is a prominent starting point in social science research on social mobility and SWB. It suggests that social mobility has negative consequences for SWB, as both upwardly and downwardly mobile individuals experience alienation from their social origin and feel distant from their new social position. A prominent counter thesis derived from economic works argues that SWB increases with upward social mobility, as a higher social position offers better opportunities to produce SWB. The current literature, based mainly on single-country studies, has yielded mixed findings and points to the importance of context (e.g. country and culture).