Exploring the relationship between depressive symptoms, allostatic load, and income inequality in US adults aged 20 and older.

Summary: Have you ever felt so stressed for so long that your body just feels worn out? Scientists call this "allostatic load"—it is the physical wear and tear from chronic stress. A large study looked at thousands of adults in the US to see if this physical stress is linked to feeling depressed. They also looked at how much money people make to see if income played a role. The results? People with high physical stress levels are much more likely to have signs of depression, no matter their income level. This means that treating the physical signs of stress could be a powerful new way to help fight depression!