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Lookup NU author(s): Gillian Pepper, Professor Daniel Nettle
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Socioeconomic gradients in health behavior are pervasive and well documented. Yet, there is little consensus on their causes. Behavioral ecological theory predicts that, if people of lower socioeconomic position (SEP) perceive greater personal extrinsic mortality risk than those of higher SEP, they should disinvest in their future health. We surveyed North American adults for reported effort in looking after health, perceived extrinsic and intrinsic mortality risks, and measures of SEP. We examined the relationships between these variables and found that lower subjective SEP predicted lower reported health effort. Lower subjective SEP was also associated with higher perceived extrinsic mortality risk, which in turn predicted lower reported health effort. The effect of subjective SEP on reported health effort was completely mediated by perceived extrinsic mortality risk. Our findings indicate that perceived extrinsic mortality risk may be a key factor underlying SEP gradients in motivation to invest in future health.
Author(s): Pepper GV, Nettle D
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Human Nature
Year: 2014
Volume: 25
Issue: 3
Pages: 378-392
Print publication date: 01/09/2014
Online publication date: 03/07/2014
ISSN (print): 1045-6767
ISSN (electronic): 1936-4776
Publisher: Springer
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12110-014-9204-5
DOI: 10.1007/s12110-014-9204-5
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