Diminished Returns: The Hidden Health Costs of Upward Social Mobility for Black Americans

Black-White health inequities, systemic and unjust differences in health, are well documented across a broad range of outcomes. Socioeconomic resources are often cited as a key determinant of racial health inequities in the United States. While accounting for socioeconomic status (SES) reduces racial health inequities, it does not eliminate them, as emerging evidence suggests that the process of mobility can also carry unique psychological and physiological burdens. This review describes why upwardly mobile Black Americans continue to have relatively worse health outcomes than White Americans despite higher SES attainment. We examine factors that contribute to the hidden health costs of upward social mobility for Black Americans, including exposure to persistent stressors such as financial precarity, the navigation of predominantly White spaces, and uplift strain, in addition to the use of high-effort coping strategies. The findings from this review are especially pertinent, considering the current sociopolitical climate of the United States.