The Effect of Subjective Socioeconomic Status on Future Orientation: The Protective Role of Non-Fatalistic Beliefs

Abstract

Abstract Background Subjective socioeconomic status (SES), an individual’s beliefs about his or her social class, is anticipated to be related to future orientation. Based on the theory of endogenous power for poverty elimination, we proposed a moderation model to examine the relationship between subjective SES on future orientation and the moderating effect of fatalism. Methods We conducted two studies to test the proposed model. Specifically, in Study 1, 217 Chinese participants were recruited to complete a booklet of questionnaires to measure their subjective SES, future orientation, and fatalism. In Study 2, the data were collected from 244 Chinese participants. Their subjective SES and fatalism were measured by questionnaires, and future orientation was measured by an Imaginative Scenario Test. Results The results revealed two primary findings: (1) Fatalism moderated the relationship between subjective SES and future orientation. Specifically, the low levels of fatalism (i.e., non-fatalistic beliefs) protected against the negative effects of low SES on future orientation. (2) The moderating effect was primarily attributed to the luck dimension of fatalism, which was the belief that luck played a key role in determining one’s fate. Conclusions The findings contribute to enriching the current understanding of the negative effect of low subjective SES on future orientation and the protective role of non-fatalistic beliefs.