Social status impacts stress responses
Feeling lower in social rank due to socioeconomic factors can heighten cardiovascular stress responses, a new study suggests.
Why it matters
- Feels lower in social rank due to socioeconomic factors can heighten biological stress responses.
- Suggests a potential biological pathway connecting social inequality to heart health.
By the numbers
- 25 studies analyzed, totaling 2,005 participants.
- Socioeconomic-based manipulations led to heightened cardiovascular reactivity.
The big picture
- Psychological experience of socioeconomic status can influence biological processes linked to disease risk.
- Helps explain health disparities related to socioeconomic position.
What they're saying
- Commenters find the results unsurprising, citing personal experiences with stress related to socioeconomic status.
- Social media and financial insecurity are noted as additional stressors.
Caveats
- Limited generalizability due to predominantly white, college-aged North American participants.
- Study captures acute reactions, not chronic stress.
What’s next
- More diverse samples and designs needed to explore cognitive and emotional processes linking social rank perception to physiological outcomes.