Preface to The Biology of Disadvantage: Socioeconomic Status and Health

How does socioeconomic status "get into the body" to affect health?A decade ago, when the MacArthur Foundation Research Network onSocioeconomic Status and Health began to answer this question, fewstudies directly tested the pathways and mechanisms that contributeto the gradient relationship between socioeconomic status andhealth. The scientific research presented in this volume captures wherethe field stands after 10 years of intense research by theMacArthur Network and others into the mechanisms of healthdisparities. In addition, it illustrates the power of amultidisciplinary approach to complex social issues. Finally, itpresents potential applications of the accumulated knowledge forsocial interventions and raises pragmatic issues that are importantto consider when science is translated into policy andintervention. NOTE: Annals volumes are available for sale as individual booksor as a journal. For information on institutional journalsubscriptions, please visit www.blackwellpublishing.com/nyas. ACADEMY MEMBERS: Please contact the New York Academy of Sciencesdirectly to place your order (www.nyas.org). Members of the NewYork Academy of Science receive full-text access to the Annalsonline and discounts on print volumes. Please visit http://www.nyas.org/MemberCenter/Join.aspxfor more information about becoming a member.