SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC POSITION, WORLD VIEWS, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS

The objective social conditions associated with sociodemographic posit ion may lead individuals in less advantaged social positions to view t he world in ways that are conducive to psychological distress. Data fr om a recent national survey show that sociodemographic position is ass ociated with individuals' world views about controllability, vulnerabi lity, and justice. In turn, beliefs about control and vulnerability ex plain a substantial part of the estimated effect of income, education, gender, and age on psychological distress.