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Racism as a psychosocial stressor that contributes to health disparities through dysregulation of HPA/SNS systems
Thesis

Racism as a psychosocial stressor that contributes to health disparities through dysregulation of HPA/SNS systems

Dominique R. Cross
Master of Public Health (M.P.H.), Drexel University
2012
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/etd-4158
pdf
Cross_Dominique_2012897.32 kB
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Abstract

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis Racism Sympathetic nervous system Public Health
There are a number of documented health disparities between minority and Caucasian children. One mechanism that may explain the disparity is increased allostatic load (dysregulation of physiological systems) among African-Americans and other minorities due to chronic stressors. It has been shown that minority children have flatter diurnal cortisol slopes than Whites - an indication of increased allostatic load. If increased stress contributes to increased allostatic load, one of the possible factors that may increase stress levels in minority children is racism. This was a pilot study to explore a potential link between perceptions of racism and increased allostatic load (shown by physiological dysregulation of cortisol) in Black male youth. Subjects collected salivary samples in a naturalistic setting. They also completed the Perceptions of Racism in Children and Youth (PRaCY) questionnaire as a measure of their experiences with racism. The study examined the feasibility of collecting salivary samples in a naturalistic setting in a low socio-economic status, inner-city population as well as correlated their perceptions of racism with allostatic stress levels, perceived social status, and depression symptoms.

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