The Relationship Between Socioeconomic Status and Blood Pressure

This paper examines the literature surrounding the relationship between blood pressure/hypertension and income. In addition, it examines blood pressure data in order to identify potential relationships between hypertension and income, race, and education. In reviewing the literature, the overall profile of the relationship between income and blood pressure in the United States is negative. However, there are some interesting nuances to this relationship that are discussed based on race and gender. Moreover, when looking abroad, evidence shows that the relationship between blood pressure and income can vary greatly depending on context. In looking at data from a youth sample, it was discovered that there was a negative relationship between education and diastolic blood pressure in this sample, but no evidence was found for a relationship between income and blood pressure