Do Finances Determine Our Fate?: Understanding the Relationships Between Socioeconomic Status, Inflammation, and Cancer Recurrence Risk

Author

Faith Wilbourne, University of Southern MississippiFollow

Date of Award

8-2025

Degree Type

Masters Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

School

Psychology

Committee Chair

Dr. Megan Renna

Committee Chair School

Psychology

Committee Member 2

Dr. Kelsey Bonfils

Committee Member 2 School

Psychology

Committee Member 3

Dr. Austen Anderson

Committee Member 3 School

Psychology

Abstract

Individuals of a low socioeconomic status (SES) are more likely to experience a cancer recurrence relative to individuals with a higher SES. This may be partially explained by the stressors of living with a low SES. These stressors can increase inflammatory markers known to elevate the risk of cancer development. Health-promoting behaviors such as exercise, adequate sleep, and a healthy diet can reduce systemic inflammation. Health behaviors may therefore moderate any potential relationship between SES and cancer recurrence risk. This study explored associations between SES (income, educational attainment) and inflammatory markers related to cancer recurrence while seeking to determine if health behaviors (diet, exercise, sleep) moderate this relationship. Income was significantly associated with CRP (F = 4.484, p = .012) and the ratio of LBP to sCD14 (F = 5.383, p = .005) such that the lower income group had lower levels of these inflammatory markers. Education level was not associated with any inflammatory markers across visits (ps = .080 - .983). However, there was a significant interaction effect for education and sleep quality on CRP levels (F = 3.371, p = .037). Poor sleep quality led to elevations in CRP for individuals with a high school diploma or less that were not seen in the groups with higher educational attainment. This finding did not withstand a Bonferroni correction. No other interactions between SES and health behaviors yielded significant results (ps = .063 - .953). Equal access to quality care across SES groups may partially explain the limited significant findings.

ORCID ID

0009-0008-7745-690X

Copyright

Faith Wilbourne 2025

Recommended Citation

Wilbourne, Faith, "Do Finances Determine Our Fate?: Understanding the Relationships Between Socioeconomic Status, Inflammation, and Cancer Recurrence Risk" (2025). Master's Theses. 1139.
https://aquila.usm.edu/masters_theses/1139