Death as a Way Out: How Subjective Social Class Shapes Death Attitudes and Suicidal Ideation

Abstract

Extensive research documents the far-reaching consequences of social class, yet one fundamental question remains underexplored: Does social class shape how people construe death? We examine whether subjective social class is associated with distinct death attitudes and whether those attitudes, in turn, are related to suicidal ideation. Across Studies 1a and 1b, lower subjective social class was associated with greater escape acceptance, which involves viewing death as relief from life’s hardships. By contrast, neutral acceptance, approach acceptance, fear of death, and death avoidance showed no consistent association with social class. In Study 2, lower subjective social class was indirectly associated with greater suicidal ideation through higher escape acceptance, even after adjusting for depressive symptoms and exposure to threatening life events. Taken together, these findings reveal an overlooked implication of perceived social standing: Social class is linked not only to how people live but also to how they make meaning of death.