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Erschienen in: Journal of Behavioral Medicine 2/2018

23.09.2017

Psychological pathways from racial discrimination to cortisol in African American males and females

verfasst von: Daniel B. Lee, Melissa K. Peckins, Justin E. Heinze, Alison L. Miller, Shervin Assari, Marc A. Zimmerman

Erschienen in: Journal of Behavioral Medicine | Ausgabe 2/2018

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Abstract

The association between racial discrimination (discrimination) and stress-related alterations in the neuroendocrine response—namely, cortisol secretion—is well documented in African Americans (AAs). Dysregulation in production of cortisol has been implicated as a contributor to racial health disparities. Guided by Clark et al. (Am Psychol 54(10):805–816, 1999. doi:10.​1037/​0003-066X.​54.​10.​805) biopsychosocial model of racism and health, the present study examined the psychological pathways that link discrimination to total cortisol concentrations in AA males and females. In a sample of 312 AA emerging adults (45.5% males; ages 21–23), symptoms of anxiety, but not depression, mediated the relation between discrimination and total concentrations of cortisol. In addition, the results did not reveal sex differences in the direct and indirect pathways. These findings advance our understanding of racial health disparities by suggesting that the psychological consequences of discrimination can uniquely promote physiologic dysregulation in AAs.
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Metadaten
Titel
Psychological pathways from racial discrimination to cortisol in African American males and females
verfasst von
Daniel B. Lee
Melissa K. Peckins
Justin E. Heinze
Alison L. Miller
Shervin Assari
Marc A. Zimmerman
Publikationsdatum
23.09.2017
Verlag
Springer US
Erschienen in
Journal of Behavioral Medicine / Ausgabe 2/2018
Print ISSN: 0160-7715
Elektronische ISSN: 1573-3521
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-017-9887-2

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