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In this video I discuss the relationship between the stress response and the social hierarchy. While high status in a hierarchy can be associated with greater control and less stress, it can also be the case that high status positions involve constant challenges and this can increase stress and levels of glucocorticoids. Human hierarchies are also difficult to assess because we are all part of many hierarchies and the relative importance of these hierarchies is subjective and can vary dramatically. When it comes to socioeconomic status, higher positions are associated with better health outcomes, as demonstrated in the Whitehall studies led by Michael Marmot. Poverty is a major risk factor for many negative health outcomes and these may result from the many physical, psychological, and environmental stressors related to poverty. Once basic needs are met, however, social status and stress are harder to evaluate due to each individual's positions across a unique combination of different hierarchies.

Whitehall Study Archive: https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/research/library-archives-service/archives/whitehall-study-archive-collection

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