Differential Effect of Perceived Social Mobility on Sense of Gain

The subjective assessment of social mobility opportunities plays an important role in shaping individuals’ psychological experiences and social mentality. Drawing on the hierarchical structure theory of social mentality, this study examines how perceived social mobility influences sense of gain and identifies the underlying mechanisms and boundary conditions. The findings indicate the following: (1) Perceived social mobility positively predicts the sense of gain. (2) Social trust mediates the positive relationship between perceived social mobility and sense of gain, and this indirect effect is significant under high perceived social mobility but not significant under low perceived social mobility. (3) Subjective social status moderates the association between low perceived social mobility and social trust. The negative association between low perceived social mobility and social trust shows a tendency to be more pronounced among individuals with low subjective social status. These findings support an integrative model of “cognitive foundation—relational connection—emotional feedback”, providing a stratified pathway for guiding and empowering people’s sense of gain.