Racial discrimination, educational attainment, and biological dysregulation among midlife African American women.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To examine the association between self-reported racial discrimination and allostatic load, and whether the association differs by socioeconomic position.

Methods

We recruited a purposive cross-section of midlife (ages 30-50) African American women residing in four San Francisco Bay area counties (n = 208). Racial discrimination was measured using the Experience of Discrimination scale. Allostatic load was measured as a composite of 15 biomarkers assessing cardiometabolic, neuroendocrine, and inflammatory activity. We calculated four composite measures of allostatic load and three system-specific measures of biological dysregulation. Multivariable regression was used to examine associations, while adjusting for relevant confounders.

Results

In the high educa

SUBMITTER: Allen AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6289261 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature