You need to enable Javascript. * Twitter * Facebook * LinkedIn * YouTube * Email Alerts * RSS /Joseph Rowntree Foundation Search this site: _______________ Search * Home * Blog * Publications + Browse publications * Media centre * Our work * JRF Data * Events * Funding * About us You are here: Home / Publications / How does money influence health? Cover image How does money influence health? Michaela Benzeval et al. 10 March 2014 Summary PDF 4 pages 0.1 MB Full report PDF 70 pages 0.4 MB Why do people in poverty tend to have poorer health? This study looks at hundreds of theories to consider how income influences health. There is a graded association between money and health – increased income equates to better health. But the reasons are debated. Researchers have reviewed theories from 272 wide-ranging papers, most of which examined the complex interactions between people’s income and their health throughout their lives. Key points This research identifies four main ways money affects people’s wellbeing: * Material: Money buys goods and services that improve health. The more money families have, the better the goods they can buy. * Psychosocial: Managing on a low income is stressful. Comparing oneself to others and feeling at the bottom of the social ladder can be distressing, which can lead to biochemical changes in the body, eventually causing ill health. * Behavioural: For various reasons, people on low incomes are more likely to adopt unhealthy behaviours – smoking and drinking, for example – while those on higher incomes are more able to afford healthier lifestyles. * Reverse causation (poor health leads to low income): Health may affect income by preventing people from taking paid employment. Childhood health may also affect educational outcomes, limiting job opportunities and potential earnings. The research is part of our programme of work on poverty in the UK. Summary Download as PDF 0.1 MB View the discussion thread. Share this page Email a friend Back to top * * * Tweet * * Sign up to email alerts Direct link to this page: ____________________________________________________________ Submit Recommend to a friend via email: Your message will be: ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ Your email: ____________________________________________________________ Their email: ____________________________________________________________ Send Related content How much does money matter: programme summary Chris Goulden 14 October 2012 Publication Does money affect children’s outcomes? Kerris Cooper and Kitty Stewart 22 October 2013 Publication Allowing children to grow up in poverty remains a false economy Donald Hirsch 5 June 2013 Blog A minimum income standard for the UK in 2013 Donald Hirsch 28 June 2013 Publication JRF logo Sign up to receive email alerts A weekly round-up of new research and blogs. Choose your alerts Please choose the alerts you want to receive: * [_] JRF newsletter: a monthly overview of all JRF publications, blogs and events. [_] Publications: a weekly round-up of new research and blogs. [_] Calls for proposals: sent when a new call for proposals is published. [_] Jobs: sent when a new job is advertised. Your contact details Your email address: * ____________________________________________________________ Subscribe We will never give your email address to anyone. Please refer to our privacy statement. Featured topics * JRF data visualisations * Monitoring poverty and social exclusion * Minimum Income Standards Contact details T: +44 (0)1904 629241 F: +44 (0)1904 620072 Email us... info@jrf.org.uk * Also founded by Joseph Rowntree: * Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust * Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust * Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust * Site map * A to Z * Contact us * Jobs * Feedback * Accessibility * Privacy * Terms & Conditions * Site by Torchbox