Epidemiologic evidence for the relation between socioeconomic status and depression, obesity, and diabetes
Abstract
Many of the leading causes of death and disability in the United States and other countries are associated with socioeconomic position. The least well-off suffer a disproportionate share of the burden of disease, including depression, obesity, and diabetes. Research suggests that the adverse effects of economic hardship on both mental and physical health and functioning are evident at young ages and persist across the lifecourse. Moreover, these associations are seen across cultures. Data from four large epidemiologic studies on the role of psychological characteristics, social factors, and behaviors in health and disease risk are presented that highlight the striking associations between socioeconomic factors and chronic diseases. Data from these studies demonstrate that the effects of economic disadvantage are cumulative, with the greatest risk of poor mental and physical health seen among those who experienced sustained hardship over time.
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Persons with lower socioeconomic status are at increased risk of cardiometabolic disease.
“Persons with lower socioeconomic status are also at an increased risk of cardiometabolic disease [5, 6]”
From Association between sleep deficiency and cardiometabolic disease: implications for health disparities (2016) · cites this paper as [5]
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- Authors
- Everson, S. A., Maty, S. C., Lynch, J. W., & Kaplan, G. A.
- Affiliations
- University of Michigan (US)
- ORCID
- Lynch, John W
- Venue
- Journal of Psychosomatic Research
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2002-10
- Volume
- 53
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 891-895
- ISSN
- 0022-3999 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2133031431
- Cited by
- 687
- References
- 40
- Citations by year
- 2026: 12 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 26 · 2023: 37 · 2022: 27 · 2021: 41 · 2020: 39 · 2019: 48 · 2018: 36 · 2017: 45 · 2016: 33 · 2015: 44 · 2014: 44 · 2013: 37 · 2012: 37
- FWCI
- 0.95
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Psychosomatic Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Deep Blue (University of Michigan) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health (5r01hd035120-03)
- National Institute on Aging (AG-113 75, R37AG011375)
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (HL-44199, R01HL044199)
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (HD35120)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Health › Health disparities and outcomes
- Social Sciences › Health › Public Health and Social Inequalities
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Employment and Welfare Studies
- Keywords
- socioeconomic status, depression, obesity, diabetes mellitus, economic hardship, socioeconomic position, chronic disease, cumulative disadvantage, life course, mental health, physical health
- MeSH terms
- Chronic Disease, Depressive Disorder, Diabetes Mellitus, Humans, Medical Indigency, Obesity, Social Class, Socioeconomic Factors, Time Factors, United States
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