Sociologists from City University London have drawn a link between wealth and physical pain. For example, lower income is associated with a higher risk of pain. Results of the study published In the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science.
The study analyzed data from the annual Gallup World Survey 2009-2018, which consists of responses from nearly 1.3 million adult respondents from 146 countries. Volunteers were asked about their monthly income before tax divided by the number of people in their household. Participants were also asked if they had experienced physical pain the day before the survey and were able to answer yes or no to this question.
In this study, pain is seen as an emotion that people experience without physical injury. Pain affects leisure and productivity at work, increases health care costs, and increases risks of substance abuse and suicide.
Analysis of the data showed that low-income people were more likely to experience body pain than high-income people. This connection persists regardless of whether a person lives in a rich country or a poor country.
“The results of the study show that negative emotions are the main factor influencing the level of human suffering. A person compares his income with others, often with his peers,” they concluded.