Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, USA.
Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2019 Nov;109:104403. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.104403. Epub 2019 Aug 10.
Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity has been identified as a mechanism through which daily life stress contributes to health problems and racial/ethnic health disparities. Stress-related changes in neuroendocrine function are evident as early as adolescence, but the ways in which promotive cultural factors may also contribute to variation in diurnal HPA activity have received little empirical attention. Grounded in cultural models of resilience, dual dimensions of Latino adolescents' cultural values (ethnic heritage and U.S. mainstream) were examined as promotive and protective factors in relation to their diurnal salivary cortisol patterns using ecological momentary assessment (N = 209; M = 18.10; 64.4% female). Participants provided 5 daily saliva samples for 3 days while completing corresponding electronic diary reports and using time-sensitive compliance devices (track caps, actigraphs). Results from 3-level growth curve models indicated that higher U.S. mainstream cultural values (e.g., self-reliance, competition, material success) were associated with higher average waking cortisol levels and a more rapid rate of diurnal cortisol decline (i.e., "steeper" slope). Regarding situational deviations from the diurnal rhythm (within-person differences), cortisol levels were higher in relation to diary-reported ongoing stress (vs. completed). Accounting for these situational differences in stress timing, a cross-level interaction (i.e., between-person difference in within-person process) indicated that higher perceived stress than usual was associated with lower cortisol levels for adolescents with stronger alignment to Latino ethnic heritage values (e.g., familism, respect, religiosity), compared to relatively higher cortisol levels for those with less alignment to these values. Results were consistent adjusting for participants' sex, immigrant generation, parents' education level, depressive symptoms, medication use, sleep duration, and other self-reported health behaviors. These findings join the growing science of cultural neurobiology by demonstrating the promotive and potentially regulating influence of cultural values in the daily HPA functioning of Latino adolescents.
下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺 (HPA) 轴活动已被确定为日常生活压力导致健康问题和种族/民族健康差异的一种机制。神经内分泌功能的应激相关变化早在青春期就很明显，但促进文化因素也可能影响日间 HPA 活动的变化方式，这方面的实证研究关注较少。本研究根植于文化韧性模型，从文化的角度出发，考察了拉丁裔青少年文化价值观的双重维度（族裔传统和美国主流文化），将其作为促进和保护因素，与他们的日间唾液皮质醇模式相关联，使用生态瞬时评估（N=209；M=18.10；64.4%为女性）。参与者在 3 天内每天提供 5 次唾液样本，同时完成相应的电子日记报告，并使用时间敏感的依从性设备（跟踪帽、活动记录仪）。3 级增长曲线模型的结果表明，较高的美国主流文化价值观（例如，自力更生、竞争、物质成功）与较高的平均清醒皮质醇水平和更快的日间皮质醇下降率（即“更陡峭”的斜率）相关。关于日间节律的情境偏差（个体内差异），与日记报告的持续压力（与已完成的压力相比）相关的皮质醇水平更高。考虑到这些压力时间的情境差异，跨水平交互（即个体内过程的个体间差异）表明，与平时相比，感知压力较高与具有更强拉丁裔族裔传统价值观（例如，家庭主义、尊重、宗教信仰）的青少年的皮质醇水平较低相关，而与这些价值观不太一致的青少年的皮质醇水平较高。调整参与者的性别、移民代际、父母的教育水平、抑郁症状、用药、睡眠时间和其他自我报告的健康行为后，结果仍然一致。这些发现加入了文化神经生物学的不断发展的科学研究，证明了文化价值观对拉丁裔青少年日常 HPA 功能的促进和潜在调节作用。
