Health Studies faculty members Dr. Steve Cohen, Dr. Molly Greaney, and Ms. Cait Nash, along with Health Studies alumna Erin Byrne, recently published an article in the Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition on the relationships between income inequality and life expectancy.  Results of the study showed that while as income inequality increased, life expectancy decreased for most areas, this was not the case across all communities.  For instance, in places with higher incomes, the relationship was reversed: higher income inequality was associated with higher life expectancy.  The reasons for this complex relationship are not yet clear and deserve further research.  Findings suggest that the relationship between income inequality and health may not be as reliable a predictor as previously believed and may depend on other factors, like overall wealth and other community attributes.  The article can be read here.