Date of Award
Fall 2013
Project Type
Thesis
Program or Major
Sociology
Degree Name
Master of Arts
First Advisor
Karen Van Gundy
Abstract
Although a growing body of research documents the links between goal-striving stress and emotional disorder, less research examines the psychosocial antecedents of goal-striving stress. Drawing on longitudinal survey data from a panel study of rural youth, this thesis examines the effects of socioeconomic status and mastery on educational goal-striving stress, occupational goal-striving stress, and combined goal-striving stress. Results indicate that each measure of goal-striving stress is not equally well predicted by socioeconomic status and mastery. Notably, the effects of socioeconomic status on occupational goal-striving stress and combined goal-striving stress are conditioned by mastery, while neither socioeconomic status nor mastery is associated with educational goal-striving stress. Findings show that the interaction between socioeconomic status and mastery accounts for socioeconomic status differences in both occupational and combined goal-striving stress, and that mastery is associated with a decrease in occupational and combined goal-striving stress particularly at lower socioeconomic strata.
Recommended Citation
Staunton, Michael S., "Socioeconomic status, mastery, and goal-striving stress among rural youth" (2013). Master's Theses and Capstones. 171.
https://scholars.unh.edu/thesis/171
