Petition for the formation of a new division of APA

We propose the creation of a new division of APA, the Division of Economic Justice, Poverty, and Social Class Issues (DEPSCI), which we believe is in line with APA’s mission to create and apply psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve people’s lives. This division will provide a central professional space that will unite psychologists interested in issues related to socioeconomic status, social class differences, the impact of poverty, economic disparities, vocational concerns, and educational barriers as well as host of emerging phenomenon that reflect rising inequality across the globe.

Issues related to socioeconomic status and economic disparities have received increased attention in the psychological literature in the last two decades (Cook et al., 2019; Reimers & Stabb, 2015), and further research is greatly needed (APA, 2019). Most pressing, the income gap between the wealthiest and the poorest continues to widen (Duncan et al., 2019), with over 37 million people living in poverty in the U.S. (U.S. Census Bureau, 2021). People who experience low-income and economic marginalization (LIEM) endure a multitude of structural barriers that negatively impact their physical health and psychological well-being. For instance, persons with LIEM are more likely to have limited access to nutritious foods (Banner et al., 2020; Fong et al., 2020; Madzia et al., 2020) and opportunities to engage in health promoting behaviors (Nandi et al., 2014) as well as greater exposure to chronic and acute stressors (Matthews & Gallo, 2011) and unhealthy environmental factors (e.g., damaged infrastructure, pollution, neighborhood violence; Schüle & Bolte, 2015). Further, people with LIEM are more likely to be diagnosed with a mental health disorder (Walker & Druss, 2017) while, at the same time, face significantly more barriers to accessing mental health treatment (APA, 2021; Ralston et al., 2019).

The psychology of socioeconomic status (SES), economic inequity, and poverty has become an essential area of study within the field of psychology. In addition to numerous articles and journal special issues being dedicated to this subject matter over the past 40 years, there have been several milestone events that emphasize the importance of economic issues within the field. In 2007, the APA formed the Committee on Socioeconomic Status (CSES) as a permanent group under the Board for the Advancement of Psychology in the Public Interest (BAPPI), cementing the study of SES into APA infrastructure. The APA has numerous resolutions that relate to economic justice including the Resolution on Ending Homelessness (2016, 2021) and the Resolution on Poverty and Socioeconomic Status (2010, 2022). In addition, the APA has sponsored committees related to SES, including the Presidential Task Force on Psychology’s Contribution to End Homelessness (2009), and the Task Force to create Professional Practice Guidelines for People with Low-Income and Economic Marginalization (passed in 2019). Recently, APA President Rosie Phillips Davis, PhD, ABPP made the theme of her presidential year improving the lives of those in deep poverty, highlighting psychology’s role in the fight against economic inequality.

In addition, the intersection between economic inequity and systemic racism is deeply entangled and we believe that establishing a division focused on reducing economic inequity and promoting economic justice would be in line with the APA Resolution on Harnessing Psychology to Combat Racism (2021) as well as the APA Resolution on the Role of Psychology and APA in Dismantling Systemic Racism Against People of Color in the U.S. (2021). Addressing economic oppression and the impact this has as enacted systemic racism is essential in psychology's role in APA dismantling racism at all levels.

In addition to the creation of a division dedicated to social class issues being in line with previous APA endeavors, we believe that the development of a division has great promise for the germination of future research and professional development. The APA Stress in America survey shows that, time and time again, anxiety about finances is a top stresser in America. Despite this, APA does not currently have a focused group to examine, or problem solve this consistent finding. Although there are many researchers and clinicians who are passionate about socioeconomic issues, there has never been a central professional hub within psychology. Many of us interested in these issues have been able to connect at conferences or through CSES networking, but this has led to psychologists being siloed, often by individual topic or academic discipline. The consensus among our group is that there is a greater need for a more formal organization to truly connect the larger body of researchers and clinicians.

Creating a division centered around SES issues and economic justice would create a centralized space for SES issues in psychology, increase collaboration among psychologists within this important topic, raise awareness to the importance of SES issues within psychology and the relationship between economic marginalization and systemic racism, consolidate research efforts related to financial stress, and work to reduce barriers for people impacted by LIEM entering the field. To support psychologists working to prevent and reduce the prevalence of economic oppression and poverty and increase economic justice, it is paramount to create a space to consolidate research, facilitate collaboration, and promote best practices to serve the needs of those impacted by LIEM. A division dedicated to issues of socioeconomic status, social class, poverty, and economic justice would be congruent with current APA policies, guidelines, and resolutions (APA, 2017; 2019; 2021; 2022), and would help APA lead the way in improving the lives of those impacted by economic marginalization.

We believe the establishment of an APA Division of Economic Justice, Poverty, and Social Class Issues (DEPSCI) is timely, deeply in line with APA’s overall mission, and has great promise in positively impacting, through psychological research, practice, and advocacy, those who have been economically marginalized. The creation of such a division will solidify the importance of the psychological impact of economic issues and is in line with the values of the APA.

• Create a centralized space for SES issues in psychology.
• Increase SES-related collaboration across the APA.
• Raise awareness of SES, which is an often overlooked or erased crucial sociocultural/contextual variable.
• Raise awareness, and promote the study, of the relationship between economic marginalization and systemic and structural racism.
• Create and organize resources for and empower those working with Low-Income and Economically Marginalized (LIEM) Populations.
• Extend work on social issues related to SES, economic inequity, economic justice, poverty, and social class.
• Provide education/training around SES issues for members and non-members, psychology students, and early career psychologists.
• Consolidate research efforts related to financial stress and provide recommendations for managing these difficulties.
• Work to reduce barriers for LIEM populations entering the field.
• Create content that promotes community engagement and interest in SES issues.
• Create a journal for SES-related content.