Social Status Impact on Women’s Heart Health

Recent research conducted by scholars at McGill and Concordia universities indicates that women who perceive themselves to have a lower social standing may exhibit early indicators of heart tissue stress, which can be linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.

“One in three women in North America die from heart disease. Yet, women are less likely to receive important cardiac interventions or therapies than men. This highlights the need to rethink how we assess cardiovascular risk in women,”

— Dr. Judy Luu, Co-Lead Author, Assistant Professor in McGill’s Department of Medicine

This study underscores the connection between subjective social status—how individuals perceive their ranking compared to others—and health outcomes. Previous studies have already linked lower perceptions of social standing with poorer physical and mental health. Notably, the findings from this research highlight sex-specific effects in heart health.

Involving over 400 participants aged between 35 and 83 who did not have diagnosed heart conditions, the study had each participant complete a questionnaire evaluating their social status on a scale of one to ten. Subsequently, cardiac MRI scans were conducted to look for signs of stress in heart tissue.

Results showed that women who rated their social status lower exhibited greater signs of potential inflammation and early scarring in the heart, irrespective of similar income and educational levels as those who rated their status higher. In contrast, men who perceived their social status as lower than their peers did not show comparable warning signs.

Potential Explanations for Gender Differences

According to co-lead author Jean-Philippe Gouin, Full Professor of Psychology at Concordia, two primary theories may explain these distinct findings:

1. Real-Life Experiences: Subjective social status might reflect women’s everyday experiences more accurately than objective measures of their socioeconomic status. Despite having the same level of education, women often earn less and face additional societal pressures, which may shape their self-perception.
2. Psychological Impact: Women could feel limited in their chances for upward mobility, leading to heightened stress levels that impact heart health.

Considering that stress ranks among the top five risk factors for heart disease in women under 65, factors like trauma, discrimination, and caregiving roles may contribute to the heart tissue changes noted in the research—evidence of inflammation that can occur even prior to a formal diagnosis of heart disease.

The researchers plan to track a larger cohort of participants over time to determine if these early heart markers can predict future heart disease.

“We hope our work helps shift the paradigm in cardiac care,” said Luu. “We want to make it normal to discuss mental wellness, social circumstances, and stress in routine medical practice.”