Stress and Health

We have all heard that stress can have harmful effects on our health.  The CDC published a paper entitled "The Effects of Childhood Stress on Health Across The Lifespan" which outlines that, although beneficial in small doses, stress can have very detrimental effects on those who have been exposed to it repeatedly from a very young age.  Abused and neglected children are particularly at risk.  Toxic stress can affect brain development, the immune system, learning and memorization.  It also increases a person's risk of depression, substance abuse and suicide into adulthood.
Toxic stress includes bullying and there again, the effects on the victims' health are long lasting.
According to a study conducted across a sample of 3,000 adults and published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, those who were bullied as children do suffer emotionally and physically as adults.  Symptoms vary and include depression, anxiety, fatigue, pain and frequent colds.
The reason seems to be linked to the fact that stress forces the body to produce high levels of cortisol and adrenaline - thereby increasing heart rate, causing digestive upsets, tight muscles, among other things.

How does this relate to monkeys?

Well, because Duke University just released results of a study related to status and stress in rhesus macaques.  This study focused on the physical effects of stress on the lowest ranking animals in a group.  The last individuals introduced into a social group is always lowest ranking and exposed to threats more often than other members of the group.  They can be slapped, kicked and bitten, which causes a lot of stress.  By collecting blood samples, researchers saw huge differences in the genes related to the good functioning of the immune system of the low ranking animals compared to high ranking ones.  When the same individuals achieved a higher status in their respective groups, their sense of well-being improved and so did their immune system.  For more information, you can read: Changes in Monkeys' Social Status Affect Their Genes published in ScienceDaily.

How does this translate in the workplace for humans?  Although individuals with a high status in society have better health than those who are unemployed and struggle financially, being the boss does not mean one is healthier according to a paper from 2008 entitled "Do People Become Healthier after Being Promoted?"  Of course, there are many factors to be taken into consideration.

The subject is not exhausted and more studies are needed.  However, for humans there is no question in my mind that being poor and having a low social status definitely affect how we see ourselves and whether or not we can afford health care.