The Capital It Takes To Simply Say “No”: Exploring How Childhood Home Income Relates To Effective Boundary Expression

People are increasingly striving to lead a balanced life, not exclusively focused on work. However, setting boundaries around work can be an important source of conflict. Critically, some people tend to express such boundaries more effectively than others, reaping important personal and occupational benefits. But could life circumstances, such as one’s socioeconomic background, contribute to more effective boundary expression? In the present pre-registered study, undergraduate students read a hypothetical scenario in which a peer sent them a text message asking for help. Participants were then told to set their boundaries by writing to decline the peer’s request. As hypothesized, participants from higher-income childhood homes declined the request in a more direct and less emotional fashion, and reported feeling less ashamed and less afraid afterwards. The present research advances the literature on boundary-setting and suggests another way in which socioeconomic status might place some people at an advantage.