Final answer:
Stress is the factor correlated with increased health complaints, as those with lower social status, lack of control, and higher levels of daily hassles tend to experience higher stress levels and poorer health. Conversely, greater perceived control has been associated with a lower risk of health problems. Environmental factors such as obesity and systemic issues like racism and sexism also contribute to health disparities.
Step-by-step explanation:
Stress is correlated to increased health complaints, regardless of the individual's level of health. Research has shown that various factors such as social status, lack of control, resource inequality, and daily hassles can contribute to increased stress and poor health outcomes. For instance, people in lower social status often face greater unemployment and lesser access to health care, which exacerbates stress levels and, consequently, health problems. Moreover, those with higher perceived control over their lives, such as individuals in high-status jobs, have been linked to lower risk of physical health problems such as heart attacks and cardiovascular diseases.
Additionally, environmental factors like obesity are also recognized as a significant health challenge, particularly in high-income nations, with a verifiable connection to diseases including diabetes and respiratory issues. Furthermore, systemic issues like racism, sexism, ageism, and heterosexism create disparities that magnify health problems among affected populations. Examples of health conditions that have been observed to have increased in individuals facing high levels of stress include hypertension, coronary heart disease, irritable bowel syndrome, asthma, allergies, and even skin conditions such as acne, eczema, and psoriasis.