An Exploration of the Effects of Subjective Socioeconomic Status on Biological Aging

Biological aging and its relationship with objective socioeconomic status is well-known and understood: a lower objective socioeconomic status leads to accelerated biological aging. However, the relationship between subjective socioeconomic status and biological aging has yet to be investigated. This study seeks to identify whether a relationship between subjective socioeconomic status and biological aging exists, specifically by testing whether or not a lower subjective socioeconomic status leads to accelerated biological aging. Biological aging is a universal experience for humans and is a determinant for the speed of onset of chronic diseases and longevity. It is important to test whether or not subjective socioeconomic status impacts speed of biological aging in order to understand how self-perception impacts onset of disease and timing of death. Using data from Wave V of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) and PhenoAge and GrimAge calculators for epigenetic aging, this study demonstrates that a lower subjective socioeconomic status leads to accelerated biological aging, even outside of the effects of objective socioeconomic status, health behavior, sex, and race. These findings provide evidence that self-perception of social status affects aging. More studies concerning subjective socioeconomic status and biological aging are needed to improve understanding of the relationship between the two.Bachelor of Scienc