First-generation College Students Have Greater Systemic Inflammation than Continuing-Generation College Students Following the Initial College Transition: A Brief Report.

ABSTRACT:

Background

First-generation college students ("first-gens") are often at a disadvantage socially and academically; whether they are at risk physiologically is unknown despite the well-established link between greater education and better long-term health.

Purpose

To examine whether first-gens have higher levels of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk markers relative to continuing-generation college students ("continuing-gens").

Methods

A panel of CVD risk markers was assessed among 87 emerging adults (41 first-gens) twice over their first year of college.

Results

Compared to continuing-gens, first-gens had greater systemic inflammation (composite of averaged z-scores for C-reactive protein and interleukin-6; B = 0.515, SE = 0.171, p = .003) during the fall but no

SUBMITTER: Jones EJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9773364 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature