Perceiving Economic Inequality in Daily Life Increases Status Anxiety: Evidence From Latin America / Percibir desigualdad económica en la vida diaria incrementa la ansiedad por el estatus: evidencia desde Latinoamérica

Abstract

Economic inequality is a pronounced and persistent phenomenon in Latin America, with consequences that transcend the structural and affect psychological well-being. However, the evidence linking inequality and status anxiety is inconsistent, partly due to the distinction between objective and subjective indicators of inequality. Furthermore, most studies originate from the Global North, limiting a comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon. This study analyses the relationship between the perception of economic inequality in everyday life (PEIEL) and status anxiety (SA), while also considering materialism and status-seeking (SS). A first instrumental study (N = 604) validated the PEIEL scale in a Colombian population, finding adequate reliability, a one-factor structure and gender invariance. A second ex post facto study (N = 207) showed that higher PEIEL scores predict higher SA, even after controlling for sociodemographic variables, materialism and SS. These findings provide empirical evidence from a Latin American context and underscore the importance of considering how everyday experiences of inequality predict status anxiety and reinforce materialistic and status-seeking orientations.