Poor And Unpopular People Are Less Healthy, Primate Study Shows

In most societies in the world, being at top of the social ladder is something that a majority of people aspire to. They want to be popular, wealthy, living the good life, and not have to face the difficulties that their below-average peers have to contend with on a daily basis. While it might be easy to assume that this is just a manifestation of humanity’s shallow aspects, a new study suggests that the need to be popular and rich has a much deeper implication.

According to a study involving rhesus monkeys at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center of Emory University, a clear correlation between lower social status and a higher risk of inflammation begins to show. This is reminiscent of the evident discrepancies observed among Americans of opposite social and wealth positions, Phys.org, where the rich enjoy an additional decade in their lifespan than the poor.

The study involved taking samples from primates in the lower rung of the social construct, where it was shown that immune cells would often go into overdrive once an infection is introduced. This leads to more inflammation among subjects that are basically socially subservient.

Once the same subjects are placed in a higher position among a different set of primates, however, the changes become evident. The immune cells become less likely to go into overdrive, thus making inflammations less of a threat.

Although more tests need to be done, the results so far are reasonably conclusive. The less dominant the primate, the less healthy it becomes. Considering the similarities observed among humans and other primates, these results help to explain why those who are considered poor and unpopular live shorter lives.

As the Daily Mail points out, there are still other factors to consider when it comes to how long a particular person will live. Depending on their diet and lifestyle, someone who has less money and less social recognition might live longer than their wealthy and famous counterpart. The study simply serves to illustrate that in the grand scheme of things, being popular is good for one’s health.