Health and Wealth: Analysis of Socioeconomic Impact Report

This report analyzes the relationship between health and wealth, examining how socioeconomic factors influence health outcomes. It discusses the impact of financial stress, income, and education on overall wellbeing, drawing on research that highlights disparities in health outcomes based on socioeconomic status. The report summarizes two articles that explore the correlation between wealth and health, including the impact of poverty and lifestyle choices on health. The analysis also considers the role of racial and ethnic disparities in health outcomes and the importance of addressing these inequalities. The report concludes by emphasizing the significance of socioeconomic status as a major determinant of health and wellbeing, reinforcing the need to consider these factors when addressing public health challenges.

Running head: HEALTHCARE
Health and Wealth
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Article 1- Summary
The authors elaborate on the fact that there exists a definite correlation between health
and financial stress, and adults who belong to low socio-economic section of the society
report more financial stress, when compared to their wealthy counterparts. In addition, such
people are also considered to cope with their stress by consuming alcohol, smoking, binge
eating or watching television (Purnell, 2015). This statement by the author is in accordance to
the fact that stress creates a major negative impact on the sense of health and wellbeing of all
individuals, and that the maintenance of life is explicitly reliant on keeping the interior milieu
persistent in relation to an altering environment. It has often been found that financial stress is
closely interlinked to the onset and progress of cardiovascular outcomes, migraine, sleep
disturbances and other health problems, and also makes people display unhealthy behavior.
The authors also stated that childhood exposure to stress and poverty has exerts instant and
long-term impacts on behavior and development. Furthermore, familiar counseling and
education creates smallest impact on population, with socioeconomic factors exerting the
maximum impact on health.
Article 1- response
Thus, it can be stated that althoughnumerous situations tend to promptdissimilar
patterns of stress reactions, there are also discretealterations in stress reactions to the same
condition. Hence, the article was accurate in establishing the relation between health and
wealth, since people who belong to the economically disadvantaged section of the society
display an increased likelihood of having poor health outcomes.
Article 2- Summary
The authors illustrated that health disparities between the wealthy and the poor are
quite prevalent in the United Kingdom and the United States, with US residents having

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$500,000 annual income, reporting reduced health complications, and increased lifespan
(Clay, 2001). They also suggested that there exists a definite association between income,
occupation, educational attainment and health outcomes of patients. This in turn is confirmed
by the fact that socioeconomic status not only encompasses income of a person, but also
comprises of financial security, educational attainment, and the subjective perceptions of
social class. The authors also shed light on the fact that environmental and behavioral
differences play a distinct role, since people present at the lower spectrum of socioeconomic
status are more prone to unhealthy habits such as, smoking, poor dietary outcomes, and
unhealthy living environment. It was further stated that members of racial and ethnic
minorities display an increased likelihood of having poor health outcomes, when compared to
their white counterparts. Racial diversity increases health disparities, thus marginalizing the
social factors that govern health inequalities among different people.
Article 2- response
Thus, it can be concluded that the article provided sufficient details on the impact that
wealth of an individual creates on health outcomes. This is consistent with the fact that
socioeconomic status reflects housing, diet, spending power, medical access, work exposure,
and physical activity, all of which are major determinants of health and wellbeing. Hence, the
article was able to confirm the fact that there exists a definite correlation between wealth and
health.

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References
Clay, R. A. (2001). Wealth secures health. Monitor on Psychology, 32(9), 78.
https://www.apa.org/monitor/oct01/wealthhealth
Purnell, J. Q. (2015). Financial health is public health. Pediatrics, 129(1), e232-e246.
http://www.strongfinancialfuture.org/essays/financial-health-is-public-health/