Relationship of anomia to perceived changes in financial status, 1973-1980.

Annual variations from 1973 to 1980 in the proportions of persons among representative samples of the United States population who indicated experiences of anomia (as assessed by the Srole anomia scale) were related significantly to the associated proportions of those persons who perceived adverse changes in their financial condition. These data suggest that changes in the economic conditions of a society may play an important role in societal integration, social solidarity, morale, and their behavioral correlates, such as suicide and various forms of psychopathology. These results are consistent with reported relationships of suicide rates to both anomia and economic conditions and with relationships of persons' perceived financial status to their experiences of anomia.