Ahmadi Sarah E, Guan Joanna Y, Mashash Meital, Hamlat Elissa J, Mujahid Mahasin S, Tomiyama A Janet, Laraia Barbara A, Epel Elissa S, Mayer Stefanie E
University of Connecticut, Department of Psychological Sciences, 406 Babbidge Road, Unit 1020, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA.
University of California, Department of Psychology, 135 Young Hall, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
Brain Behav Immun Health. 2025 Jun 16;47:101035. doi: 10.1016/j.bbih.2025.101035. eCollection 2025 Aug.
Racial disparities in health have reached a critical juncture, particularly between Black and White individuals. Inflammation and daily stress have been proposed as biopsychological pathways. However, studies examining links between inflammation and individuals' appraisals of daily stressors-which are modifiable and could be intervention targets-have been limited in diverse populations. This study investigated these associations in a sample of Black and White women.
Midlife women (159 Black, 163 White) were part of a prospective cohort study in which they completed daily evening diaries assessing appraisals of daily stressor demands and coping efficacy (feeling in control, efficacious, resourceful). Participants also provided a fasting blood sample which was assessed for high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), a systemic inflammatory marker. Multiple linear regression models examined associations between race, daily stressor appraisals, and interactions with hs-CRP, controlling for education, income, and body mass index. Race-stratified models were also examined.
The interaction between race and coping efficacy, but not stressor demands, was significantly associated with hs-CRP. Specifically, more positive appraisal of coping efficacy was linked with lower hs-CRP levels in White women ( = -0.147, = .024), but not in Black women ( = 0.078, = .226).
For White women, greater perceived coping efficacy with daily stressors may buffer stress-related inflammation, providing a promising intervention target. Given the scarcity of daily stress research with diverse samples, we need to better measure and understand these relationships in Black samples and other racial and ethnic groups.
健康方面的种族差异已到关键时刻，尤其是黑人和白人之间。炎症和日常压力被认为是生物心理途径。然而，研究炎症与个体对日常压力源的评估之间联系的研究——日常压力源是可改变的且可能是干预目标——在不同人群中一直有限。本研究在黑人和白人女性样本中调查了这些关联。
中年女性（159名黑人，163名白人）参与了一项前瞻性队列研究，她们每天晚上完成日记，评估对日常压力源需求的评估和应对效能（感觉能掌控、有效、足智多谋）。参与者还提供了一份空腹血样，用于检测高敏C反应蛋白（hs-CRP），这是一种全身炎症标志物。多元线性回归模型研究了种族、日常压力源评估以及与hs-CRP的相互作用之间的关联，同时控制了教育程度、收入和体重指数。还研究了按种族分层的模型。
种族与应对效能之间的相互作用，而非压力源需求，与hs-CRP显著相关。具体而言，对应对效能的更积极评估与白人女性较低的hs-CRP水平相关（β = -0.147，P = 0.024），但在黑人女性中并非如此（β = 0.078，P = 0.226）。
对于白人女性来说，对日常压力源有更高的感知应对效能可能会缓冲与压力相关的炎症，这提供了一个有前景的干预目标。鉴于对不同样本进行日常压力研究的稀缺性，我们需要在黑人样本以及其他种族和族裔群体中更好地测量和理解这些关系。
