Morale in Relation to Caring and Social Exclusion in Society

Morale, as a future-oriented indicator of well-being, is susceptible to caring and social exclusion in society, with respect
to social integration theory. The influences of caring and social exclusion perceived in society merit the concern of the
present study. In addition, the study explores personal background characteristics as conditions for moderating the influences.
A telephone survey of 1,526 adults in Hong Kong in China provided data for the study. Results demonstrated the main effects
of caring and social exclusion perceived in society on morale and conditions that moderated the effects. The strongest condition
is age, such that social exclusion was particularly demoralizing to the older person. In contrast, the person’s wealth did
not have a main effect on morale. Results therefore favor the idealist explanation rather than materialist explanation for
morale.