What is the effect of low-income status on health outcomes?

Low-income status often leads to poorer health outcomes due to a variety of interconnected factors. Individuals and families with low income may face barriers to accessing quality healthcare services, including lack of insurance, limited availability of healthcare facilities, and financial constraints that prevent them from seeking needed care. Additionally, those in low-income circumstances may experience higher levels of stress, food insecurity, and unstable housing, which can contribute to both physical and mental health challenges.

Furthermore, low-income individuals frequently live in environments that are detrimental to their health, such as areas with limited access to nutritious foods or safe recreational spaces. These factors combine to create a cycle of disadvantage where poor health outcomes are both a result of and a contributing factor to lower socioeconomic status. Therefore, it is well-documented in public health research that poverty and health outcomes are closely linked, making poorer health outcomes a common consequence of low-income status.