Racial Discrimination, Racial Racial Discrimination, Racial Identity, and Stress Reactivity in Identity, and Stress Reactivity in

African AmericansAfrican AmericansFatima Traore

Weekes/Lewis LabPomona College

OverviewOverview Background Information

Purpose and Predictions

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Health Disparities in African Health Disparities in African American Population (1)American Population (1)

Largest health disparities among all minorities (1).

Most afflicted by hypertension

Suffer 1.1 million more deaths annually relative to the whites (2)

Mortality is comparable to that of Whites thirty years ago

Not fully accounted for by SES and Education Attainment

PERCEIVED RACISM– Prejudice and

Discrimination

The Role of Perceived Discrimination StressThe Role of Perceived Discrimination Stress

Stress is a risk factor for many health-related illnesses

Chronic exposure to racial stressors physiological dysfunction increased susceptibility to a large range of diseases

In fact, PD is sufficient to sustain high stress levels, to increase reactivity, and the likelihood of hypertension in AA population (1)

Physiological Pathways Involved in Stress ResponsePhysiological Pathways Involved in Stress Response

Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenocorticol (HPA) axis

Sympathetic Nervous system (SNS)

Release Cortisol

SLOW response

Linked to chronic disease

Poorly Investigated in AA

Release Norepinephrine

FAST response

Linked to Hypertension

Strong literature in AAs

Racial Identity Racial Identity

is the extent to which one’s person feels that he/she belongs to a racial community (1)

conflicting results on its effects on cardiovascular activity

effects on cortisol reactivity have been poorly investigated

PurposePurpose

Investigate the extent to which perceived racism predict changes in cardiovascular and cortisol reactivity following an acute racial stressor

Examine the role of racial identity in these relationships

PredictionsPredictions

Increased cardiovascular and cortisol responses to an acute racial stressor

Racial identity as a moderator of these relationships

MethodsMethods

23 college AA females

Inventories for perceived racism, State- anxiety, and racial identity

Modified Trier Social Stress Test (TSST)

6 Salivary samples (cortisol)

BP readings

Basic ProcedureBasic Procedure

Trier Social Stress TestTrier Social Stress Test

Classic Version Racial Version Evaluative panel

Arithmetic task : 1022 by 13

Mock interview -- 5 min speech

Salivary, BP, and psychological measures

White evaluative panel

Reading about affirmative action + 5 min speech

Mock interview-- 5min speech (never hired AA)

Salivary, BP, and psychological measures

TSST White Evaluative PanelTSST White Evaluative PanelC

ourtesy of Roxanna S.

Confirmatory Analyses Effectiveness of stress manipulation

(Modified TSST)

Correlation between perceived racism and racial identity

Racial Stressor was effective in Racial Stressor was effective in CV and Psych reactivityCV and Psych reactivity

Racial Stressor was NOT Racial Stressor was NOT effective in cortisol reactivityeffective in cortisol reactivity

Perceived Racism and Racial Perceived Racism and Racial IdentityIdentity

Test of Major Predictions: Test of Major Predictions: Correlation Dependent on Racial Correlation Dependent on Racial

IdentityIdentity

ConclusionConclusion

Racial identity may act as a buffer by reducing the negative effects of perceived discrimination stress on cardiovascular reactivity

More specifically, one’s connection with its community can arm him/her with better copings strategies and social support to handle stress

Implications for health disparities between AA and Whites

Weekes /Lewis Lab TeamWeekes /Lewis Lab TeamSpecial Acknowledgements to Roxanna Salim, Natalie Guerrero, Jared Kopelman, Richard Lewis and Nicole Weekes