Harvard Graduate School of Education, Harvard University, United States.
Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, United States.
Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2021 Jun;128:105212. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105212. Epub 2021 Apr 1.
Consistent with conceptual frameworks of ethnic-race-based stress responses, and empirical evidence for the detrimental effects of ethnic-racial discrimination, the current study hypothesized that experiencing more frequent ethnic-racial discrimination during adolescence would predict differences in physiological responses to psychosocial stress across the college transition. U.S. Latinx adolescents (N = 84; M = 18.56; SD = 0.35; 63.1% female; 85.7% Mexican descent) completed survey measures of ethnic-racial discrimination during their final year of high school and first college semester (~5 months later), as well as a standard psychosocial stressor task during their first college semester. Repeated blood pressure and salivary cortisol measures were recorded to assess cardiovascular and neuroendocrine activity at baseline and stress reactivity and recovery. Data were analyzed using multilevel growth models. Experiencing more frequent ethnic-racial discrimination in high school, specifically from adults, predicted higher baseline physiological stress levels and lower reactivity to psychosocial stress during the first college semester, evidenced by both blood pressure and cortisol measures. Experiencing ethnic-racial discrimination from peers in high school also predicted higher baseline blood pressure in college, but not stress reactivity indices. Results were consistent when controlling for concurrent reports of ethnic-racial discrimination, gender, parents' education level, body mass index, oral contraceptive use, time between longitudinal assessments, depressive symptoms, and general perceived stress. Experiencing frequent ethnic-racial discrimination during adolescence may lead to overburdening stress response systems, indexed by lower cardiovascular and neuroendocrine stress reactivity. Multiple physiological stress systems are sensitive to the consequences of ethnic-racial discrimination among Latinx adolescents transitioning to college.
与基于族裔的压力反应的概念框架一致，以及族裔歧视的有害影响的实证证据，本研究假设在青春期经历更频繁的族裔歧视会预测在大学过渡期间对社会心理压力的生理反应的差异。美国拉丁裔青少年（N=84；M=18.56；SD=0.35；63.1%女性；85.7%墨西哥裔）在高中最后一年和第一大学学期（约 5 个月后）完成了关于族裔歧视的调查测量，以及在第一大学学期期间完成了一项标准的社会心理压力任务。记录了重复的血压和唾液皮质醇测量值，以评估基线和应激反应性和恢复期间的心血管和神经内分泌活动。使用多层次增长模型分析数据。在高中期间，特别是从成年人那里经历更频繁的族裔歧视，预测了更高的基线生理压力水平和对大学第一学期社会心理压力的反应性降低，这在血压和皮质醇测量中都得到了证明。在高中期间经历来自同龄人的族裔歧视也预测了大学期间更高的基线血压，但对压力反应性指数没有影响。当控制同期族裔歧视报告、性别、父母教育水平、体重指数、口服避孕药使用、纵向评估之间的时间、抑郁症状和一般感知压力时，结果是一致的。在青春期经历频繁的族裔歧视可能会导致压力反应系统负担过重，这表现为心血管和神经内分泌应激反应性降低。多个生理应激系统对拉丁裔青少年进入大学过渡期间的族裔歧视后果敏感。
