Association between income, stress and health

by Arceili
(New Zealand)

1) Is it true that "The less money you have the more stressed you are?" For example: If you don't have a job/income - will you end up DEPRESSED and STRESSED?

2) What is the association between income and health?

3) Is it true that more income you have - Good quality of life?

Hi Arceili,

Thanks for asking your question! This is more of a philosophical question than anything, meaning there are many different views you could take depending on a person's situation and attitude towards income and living life.

Here are my thoughts, and they are based upon experience!

1. It is not necessarily true that "The less money you have the more stressed you are."

However, if someone loses a source of income and then cannot cover necessities, it could be quite stressful because his survival is threatened - until he solves it.

Man's greatest ability is solving problems. To the degree that you can come up with solutions, you are that much in charge of life! On the other hand, if you have a person that's lost his income and never comes out of the upset and just continues to focus on the problem and not a solution, then sure, he'll probably get depressed!

But know that you are the source of your own feelings - when you blame someone or something for your condition, you are handing over your self determinism.

2. There is no direct association between income and health.

It's not a matter of how much money you have or don't have, it's how wisely you manage - or don't manage it. Sure, having greater income allows you to do and have more material things, which is fun, but you can have a lot of fun in life and enjoy yourself as long as your basic needs are met.

3. No, it is not true that the more income you have = a good quality of life!

Have you ever seen a movie or show depicting the miserable lives of people with a lot of dough? Money is only a form of energy. It can't give you true relationships or any of the many joys of life that don't require money.

Even though money/income may or may not cause stress, prolonged negative stress from any cause will harm your health.

Check out the article How does stress affect health? and find out about how "bad stress" and "good stress" affects health.

Cheers,
BB

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