Wu Yu-Tzu, Gamble Laura D, Jones Ian Rees, Martyr Anthony, Clare Linda, Matthews Fiona E
Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research and Data, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2025 Jun 5. doi: 10.1007/s00127-025-02933-0.
Social status is related to disparities in health and well-being outcomes in people with dementia (PwD). Few studies have explored the interpersonal influence of social status of PwD on the well-being of their caregiver, or vice versa. We investigated this relationship using measures of objective and perceived (subjective) social status.
The actor-partner interdependence model was used to investigate dyadic relationships of social status and well-being in 1042 PwD and their spousal caregivers from the IDEAL study. Objective indicators of social status included education, social class and socioeconomic classification. Perceived social status included social comparison and ratings of status in society and in one's community.
Of the objective social status indicators, actor effects were only observed for caregiver education and their own well-being. Actor effects for perceived social status were stronger and independent of objective social status for both PwD and caregivers. Caregiver social status also influenced the well-being of PwD.
This study provides empirical evidence on the interpersonal influence of social status, especially perceived social status, on well-being in PwD and caregivers. Interactions between PwD, caregivers and wider society may influence the perception of relative social position and impact on living well with dementia.
社会地位与痴呆症患者（PwD）的健康和幸福状况差异有关。很少有研究探讨痴呆症患者社会地位对其照料者幸福感的人际影响，反之亦然。我们使用客观和感知（主观）社会地位的测量方法来研究这种关系。
采用行为者-伙伴相互依赖模型，对来自IDEAL研究的1042名痴呆症患者及其配偶照料者的社会地位和幸福感的二元关系进行研究。社会地位的客观指标包括教育程度、社会阶层和社会经济分类。感知社会地位包括社会比较以及在社会和社区中的地位评级。
在客观社会地位指标中，仅在照料者教育程度及其自身幸福感方面观察到行为者效应。对于痴呆症患者和照料者而言，感知社会地位的行为者效应更强，且独立于客观社会地位。照料者的社会地位也会影响痴呆症患者的幸福感。
本研究为社会地位，尤其是感知社会地位，对痴呆症患者和照料者幸福感的人际影响提供了实证证据。痴呆症患者、照料者与更广泛社会之间的互动可能会影响相对社会地位的认知，并对痴呆症患者的良好生活产生影响。
