Adherence
Low socioeconomic status (SES) is causally linked to higher prevalence of smoking, physical inactivity, and obesity, driven by mechanisms such as chronic stress, relative deprivation, and perceived limited benefits of healthy behavior rather than just lack of knowledge.
For individuals in lower socioeconomic positions, adopting healthy behaviors is not just a matter of knowing what is healthy. It is often hindered by chronic stress, lack of efficacy, and social norms. Interventions should focus on building self-efficacy, addressing stressors, and recognizing the social value of healthy behaviors, rather than just providing information.
The inverse relationships between socioeconomic status (SES) and unhealthy behaviors such as tobacco use, physical inactivity, and poor nutrition have been well demonstrated empirically but encompass diverse underlying causal mechanisms.
Why this rating
The paper is a comprehensive review of broad literatures in sociology, economics, and public health, citing numerous empirical studies.
Source
Socioeconomic Disparities in Health Behaviors
Fred C. Pampel et al. · Annual Review of Sociology · 2010
DOI 10.1146/annurev.soc.012809.102529
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