In regard to social class, the higher the income the lower one’s likelihood of disease and premature death. The fundamental social class differences in physical and mental health are a result of a variety of complex factors. Low SES people:

• Lack resources for better health. This results in being less likely to practice positive health behavior and more likely to practice risky behavior. Wealthy people have health insurance and have had more education about leading a healthy lifestyle.
• Endure chronic stress that produces diseases such as heart disease, strokes, and high blood pressure. Wealthy people have stress but have the means to address it through vacations, therapy, and leisure activities.
• Work in jobs that are highly stressful and alienating. Wealthy people have more autonomy and work in white-collar jobs.
• Live in neighborhoods that are more likely to be unsafe and unhealthy. Wealthy people live in gated communities and away from factories and other environmental hazards.
• Begin having health problems as children. Poor nutrition, stress, physical inactivity, and secondhand smoke are more likely within low-income homes. Wealthy people have access to healthy food and are not in unhealthy physical environments.

Mental health problems are far less common among the wealthy compared to the poor. Almost 9 percent of low-income families report psychological distress, compared to approximately 1 percent of wealthy families. For example, a family of three living below the Federal Poverty Line (FPL) ($20,090) is 800 percent more likely to experience mental health issues than a family of three earning four times as much as the FPL ($80,360). Low-income families that deal with mental illness often are caught in a vicious downward spiral that results in medical and financial catastrophe. There is a significant disparity in health between social classes.