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Abstract

Health-promoting behaviors, such as regular physical activity and healthy eating, are crucial for physical and mental health. The current research investigates whether subjective economic inequality undermines individuals’ engagement in health-promoting behaviors and examines the mediating role of future orientation. Across five studies using archival data, longitudinal surveys, and fully-controlled experiments, we find consistent evidence for these hypotheses. Study 1 (N = 14,101), based on nationally representative data, shows a negative association between perceived inequality and physical exercise. Studies 2 (N = 257) and 3 (N = 361), using multiwave surveys, demonstrated that perceived inequality negatively predicted various health-promoting behaviors over time. Studies 4 (N = 196) and 5 (N = 391) experimentally manipulate perceived inequality and found its causal effect on reducing individuals’ willingness to engage in health-promoting behaviors and the mediating role of future orientation. Study 5 further reveals that enhancing future orientation can mitigate this negative effect. These findings highlight the importance of the perception of the macro environment for healthy lifestyles.

Keywords

subjective economic inequality future orientation health-promoting behaviors health

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Living Unequal,Living Unhealthy: The Adverse Impact of Subjective Economic Inequality on Health-Promoting Behaviors

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