Exploring the Intricacies of Social Mobility Trajectories and Perceived Stress in Post‐Reform China

Among transitional societies, the impact of rapid and widespread intragenerational social mobilities on stress remains understudied. This empirical research explores the intricate relationship between various social mobility trajectories and perceived stress within the dynamic context of contemporary China. Drawing upon data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey spanning from 1991 to 2015, this study advances beyond conventional methodologies that typically categorise social mobility as either upward or downward. It employs the Growth Mixture Model to discern six latent mobility trajectories: 'Fall into Poverty', 'Rise from Rags', 'Middle Class', 'Fall from Grace', 'Upper Middle Class' and 'Elite.' The resulting findings then reveal the diverse impacts of these distinct mobility trajectories on perceived stress, emphasising gender-specific patterns. Among men, those categorised as 'Elite' and 'Fall from Grace' report lower perceived stress levels in comparison to the middle-class reference group, while individuals in the 'Fall into Poverty' category exhibit the highest stress levels. Conversely, for women, the 'Upper Middle Class' and 'Elite' categories are associated with lower stress levels, with 'Upper Middle Class' women experiencing the least stress. The findings unveiled in this study shed light on the multifaceted nature of social mobility and its consequences for stress within a rapidly changing society. These insights hold significant implications for public health interventions, underscoring the necessity of a more nuanced theoretical framework for understanding the stress experiences of Chinese residents amidst societal transformation.