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Downwardly mobile: When consumer decisions are influenced by people with lower socioeconomic status

A new study reveals that consumers are influenced by people with lower socioeconomic status, particularly when they aspire to a desirable trait. The 'low status user effect' suggests that observing a person from a lower status group using a product can lead to interest and emulation among higher-status individuals.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateSep 14, 2011

People in poorer neighborhoods have higher risk of sudden cardiac arrest

A study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found that people living in poorer neighborhoods are at a higher risk of sudden cardiac arrest. The disparity was particularly pronounced among individuals under 65 years old, with those in lower socioeconomic groups experiencing rates two- to fourfold higher than those in h...

SourceCanadian Medical Association Journal·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·DateSep 12, 2011

Our own status affects the way our brains respond to others

A new study found that people with higher social status respond more strongly to information about others of higher status, while those with lower status respond more strongly to information about others of lower status. This effect is linked to the brain's value system and has important implications for social behavior and interactions.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateApr 28, 2011

Peace of mind closes health gap for less-educated

A study by University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers found that positive psychological attributes, such as meaningful relationships and a sense of purpose, can counteract the negative effects of socioeconomic status on health. The study suggests that these characteristics may moderate the levels of inflammatory protein Interleukin-6 ...

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalHealth Psychology·DateOct 25, 2010

Socioeconomic status not associated with access to cochlear implants

Poor children with hearing loss have equal access to cochlear implants, but experience more complications and poor follow-up compliance compared to their higher-income peers. The study found a five-fold greater risk of complications in Medicaid-insured children, highlighting the need for improved access to these life-changing devices.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalArchives of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery·DateJul 19, 2010

People of higher socioeconomic status choose better diets -- but pay more per calorie

Research published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association found that individuals with higher education levels consumed diets with lower energy density and higher nutrient content. These diets were also associated with lower costs per kilocalorie, but only among women with higher socioeconomic status.

SourceElsevier Health Sciences·JournalJournal of the American Dietetic Association·DateMay 1, 2009

Smoking behavior partially explains socioeconomic inequities in lung cancer incidence

A recent study found that socioeconomic status is linked to an increased risk of developing lung cancer, with Europeans having lower education levels experiencing a higher incidence. The research suggests that while smoking accounts for approximately half of this risk, diet and other factors also play a role in the disparity.

SourceJournal of the National Cancer Institute·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateFeb 24, 2009

Black and white is not always a clear distinction

A new study by University of Oregon sociologists found that Americans who are unemployed, incarcerated, or impoverished are more likely to be classified as black, regardless of their past self-identification. The research suggests that race is closely tied to social status and can be altered by changes in economic position.

SourceUniversity of Oregon·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 8, 2008