The Health Correlates of Culture: Examining the Association Between Ethnic-Racial Identity and Diurnal Cortisol Slopes

Katharine H. Zeiders, Jose Causadias, Rebecca White

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: The objective of this study was to examine the link between ethnic-racial identity (ERI) components (exploration, resolution, and affirmation) and youths’ diurnal cortisol slopes. Methods: A sample of 103 U.S.-Mexican adolescents (Mage = 15.29 years) living in the Southwest participated in an in-home interview and 3-day salivary sampling protocol. Results: ERI affirmation, but not exploration or resolution, was related to steeper diurnal slopes (greater declines in cortisol from waking to bedtime) after controlling for adolescents’ life stressors, acculturation level, ethnic-racial discrimination, and daily behaviors (i.e., caffeine use, hours of exercise, hours of sleep, and medication level). Conclusions: This study provides initial evidence of the physiological benefits of ERI affirmation. Given that steeper diurnal slopes are thought of as an indicator of positive health, our findings point to the importance of examining cultural processes in the well-being of ethnic-racial minority youth.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)349-351
Number of pages3
JournalJournal of Adolescent Health
Volume62
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2018

Keywords

  • Culture
  • Diurnal cortisol slopes
  • Ethnic-racial identity
  • HPA axis
  • U.S-Mexican adolescents

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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