a measure of an individual’s perceived social standing, reflecting his or her impressions of current circumstances, background variables, and future opportunities. The scale consists of two 10-rung ladders on which respondents place an X to indicate their rank relative to others in their community and to others in the general population in terms of typical indicators of socioeconomic status, including income, education, and occupational status. The score for each ladder is the number of the rung chosen to represent one’s status, with a possible low score of 1 and a high score of 10. Research increasingly suggests that relative social position is an important predictor of overall functioning: High subjective social status has been linked to psychological factors that predispose individuals to better health trajectories and well-being. [developed in 2000 by U.S. psychologist Nancy E. Adler and colleagues]