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Being poor and coping with stress: Health behaviors and the risk of death

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  • Krueger, P.M.
  • Chang, V.W.

Abstract

Objectives. Individuals may cope with perceived stress through unhealthy but often pleasurable behaviors. We examined whether smoking, alcohol use, and physical inactivity moderate the relationship between perceived stress and the risk of death in the US population as a whole and across socioeconomic strata. Methods. Data were derived from the 1990 National Health Interview Survey's Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Supplement, which involved a representative sample of the adult US population (n=40335) and was linked to prospective National Death Index mortality data through 1997. Gompertz hazard models were used to estimate the risk of death. Results. High baseline levels of former smoking and physical inactivity increased the impact of stress on mortality in the general population as well as among those of low socioeconomic status (SES), but not middle or high SES. Conclusions. The combination of high stress levels and high levels of former smoking or physical inactivity is especially harmful among low-SES individuals. Stress, unhealthy behaviors, and low SES independently increase risk of death, and they combine to create a truly disadvantaged segment of the population.

Suggested Citation

  • Krueger, P.M. & Chang, V.W., 2008. "Being poor and coping with stress: Health behaviors and the risk of death," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 98(5), pages 889-896.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2007.114454_8
    DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2007.114454
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    Cited by:

    1. Krueger, Patrick M. & Saint Onge, Jarron M. & Chang, Virginia W., 2011. "Race/ethnic differences in adult mortality: The role of perceived stress and health behaviors," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 73(9), pages 1312-1322.
    2. Ríos-Salas, Vanessa & Larson, Andrea, 2015. "Perceived discrimination, socioeconomic status, and mental health among Latino adolescents in US immigrant families," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 116-125.
    3. Brit S. Schneider & Udo Schneider, 2009. "Determinants and Consequences of Health Behaviour: New Evidence from German Micro Data," SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research 253, DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).
    4. Peretti-Watel, Patrick & L’haridon, Olivier & Seror, Valerie, 2012. "Responses to increasing cigarette prices in France: How did persistent smokers react?," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 106(2), pages 169-176.
    5. Liu, Hui & Umberson, Debra, 2015. "Gender, stress in childhood and adulthood, and trajectories of change in body mass," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 61-69.
    6. Neda Agahi & Stefan Fors & Johan Fritzell & Benjamin A Shaw, 2018. "Smoking and Physical Inactivity as Predictors of Mobility Impairment During Late Life: Exploring Differential Vulnerability Across Education Level in Sweden," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 73(4), pages 675-683.
    7. Roberson, Patricia N.E. & Shorter, Rebecca L. & Woods, Sarah & Priest, Jacob, 2018. "How health behaviors link romantic relationship dysfunction and physical health across 20 years for middle-aged and older adults," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 201(C), pages 18-26.
    8. Booth, Sue & Deen, Caroline & Thompson, Kani & Kleve, Sue & Chan, Ellie & McCarthy, Leisa & Kraft, Emma & Fredericks, Bronwyn & Brimblecombe, Julie & Ferguson, Megan, 2023. "Conceptualisation, experiences and suggestions for improvement of food security amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents and carers in remote Australian communities," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 320(C).
    9. Sei J Lee & W John Boscardin & Katharine A Kirby & Kenneth E Covinsky, 2014. "Individualizing Life Expectancy Estimates for Older Adults Using the Gompertz Law of Human Mortality," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(9), pages 1-8, September.
    10. Schafer, Markus H. & Ferraro, Kenneth F., 2011. "Distal and variably proximal causes: Education, obesity, and health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 73(9), pages 1340-1348.
    11. Aue, Katja & Roosen, Jutta & Jensen, Helen H., 2016. "Poverty dynamics in Germany: Evidence on the relationship between persistent poverty and health behavior," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 62-70.
    12. Richard Rogers & Patrick Krueger & Richard Miech & Elizabeth Lawrence & Robert Kemp, 2013. "Nondrinker Mortality Risk in the United States," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 32(3), pages 325-352, June.
    13. Beaver, Kevin M. & Nedelec, Joseph L. & da Silva Costa, Christian & Poersch, Ana Paula & Stelmach, Mônica Celis & Freddi, Micheli Cristina & Gajos, Jamie M. & Boccio, Cashen, 2014. "The association between psychopathic personality traits and health-related outcomes," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 42(5), pages 399-407.
    14. Hong Zou & Qianqian Xiong & Hongwei Xu, 2020. "Does Subjective Social Status Predict Self-Rated Health in Chinese Adults and Why?," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 152(2), pages 443-471, November.
    15. Nobutaka Hirooka & Takeru Kusano & Shunsuke Kinoshita & Hidetomo Nakamoto, 2021. "Influence of Perceived Stress and Stress Coping Adequacy on Multiple Health-Related Lifestyle Behaviors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-9, December.
    16. Justin T. Denney & Richard G. Rogers & Patrick M. Krueger & Tim Wadsworth, 2009. "Adult Suicide Mortality in the United States: Marital Status, Family Size, Socioeconomic Status, and Differences by Sex," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 90(5), pages 1167-1185, December.
    17. Dominic Thomas, 2022. "Unhealthy food preferences: A psychological consequence of poverty?," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 56(2), pages 613-639, June.

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