Race Related Stressors and Health Disparities Research Program

National Institute On Minority Health And Health Disparities

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

One of the goals of the 'race related stressors and health disparities' research program was to identify the drivers of chronic health disparities that disproportionately affect minoritized racial and ethnic groups. The following manuscripts were developed by the staff of this research program: #1: The first study examined whether perceived discrimination (everyday, lifetime) was associated with changes in health behaviors over time and whether associations of discrimination with behaviors varied by attribution of discrimination among African American men and women in the Jackson Heart Study. Discrimination did not predict changes in smoking status or alcohol use. However, discrimination was associated with persistent current smoking status, which may be a potential mechanism through which discrimination impacts the health of African American men and women. #2:The second study identified underlying stress profiles of older U.S. adults in the Health and Retirement Study and their associations with hypertension and diabetes by race and ethnicity over time. Underlying classes of stress were associated with hypertension and diabetes status. Racial and ethnic differences were also observed for latent class membership and transitions between classes over time. #3: The third study examined the relationship between discrimination and preferences for cancer battle metaphors versus journey metaphors and the mediating effects of needs for personal significance and cognitive closure. Differences across discrimination attribution and racial/ethnic group were also explored. According to these findings, discrimination may shape cancer metaphor preferences via needs for personal significance and cognitive closure and these associations may differ based on racial/ethnic group and whether discrimination is attributed to race. Related manuscripts developed by collaborators included the following: #4: The study by Gaston et al. examined whether racial/ethnic discrimination contributed to the risk of type 2 diabetes among women over time in the Sister Study. Experiencing major discrimination was marginally associated with type 2 diabetes risk. #5:The study by Aronoff et al. tested whether perceived discrimination (everyday and lifetime) and perceived burden from lifetime discrimination were associated with counts of neutrophils, monocytes, lymphocytes and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and DNA methylation. Findings indicate that immune function may be an important pathway linking perceived discrimination to health outcomes. #6: The study by Strassle et al. presented the prevalence of COVID-related discrimination among major U.S. racial/ethnic groups and examined associations between sociodemographic characteristics and COVID-19 related discrimination. All racial/ethnic minority groups were more likely than White adults to experience COVID-19 related discrimination, with higher prevalence of COVID-related discrimination observed among Asian and American Indian/Alaska Native adults.