Poverty in the United States is exacting a high cost in terms of stress, unhappiness and pain, according to new research by The Brookings Institution.
Analyzing Gallup data, Brookings found that pain, worry, sadness and anger are all significantly higher among those with low incomes than among the wealthy, while reported satisfaction with life as a whole is significantly lower.
Chronic pain and mental distress were twice as likely to be reported among those with incomes below the poverty line as opposed to those earning $75,000 or more, a recent study by Ronald Anderson showed.
Persons experiencing discrimination also demonstrated more stress. Among other things, discrimination raises the transaction cost of simple things like getting a loan or buying a home, according to Brookings.
The cost and pain of poverty in the U.S., on average, is higher than in Latin America, because the gap between the rich and poor is also much greater, the research showed.
