The concept of status incongruence revisited: a 22-year follow-up of mortality for middle-aged men.

The purpose of this study was to analyse the relationships between status incongruency and mortality. From the concept of status incongruence two incongruent groups were defined, those with high education and low social position (socially downward drifters) and those with low education and high social position (socially upstarters). A cohort of middle-aged men (n = 855), all born in 1913 and living in the city of Gothenburg, Sweden were followed during a period of 22 years. The socially downward drifters had a significantly increased risk for: non-cause specific (overall) mortality, more potential years of life lost and mortality caused by coronary heart disease. These differences were still evident after taking other risk factors into account. The socially upstarters had, on the other hand, lower mortality risks and win years. Imbalance between educational level and attained social position appears to affect survival in a long term follow-up.