Stress & Coping MCAT Practice Question

A 34-year-old man presents to urgent care with complaints of insomnia, irritability, and increased alcohol consumption over the past 3 months. He lost his job 6 months ago due to company downsizing and has been unable to find steady employment in his economically disadvantaged neighborhood. He reports feeling hopeless about his future and states, "There's no point in looking anymore—nobody here gets out." His vital signs are stable. On review of systems, he denies suicidal ideation but admits to drinking 4-5 beers nightly to "cope with stress." Examination is unremarkable. He mentions that his childhood friend from the same neighborhood recently developed similar symptoms after a similar job loss. Which of the following most directly explains why residents of this socioeconomically disadvantaged community experience worse stress-related outcomes compared to more affluent neighborhoods?