American Indian young adults display diminished cardiovascular and cortisol responses to acute psychological stress. (April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: John-Henderson, Neha A.; Gruman, Hannah E.; Counts, Cory J.; Ginty, Annie T.
• Is Part Of: Psychoneuroendocrinology. Volume 114(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-04
• Subjects: Acute psychological stress -- Cardiovascular activity -- Cortisol -- American Indian; Psychoneuroendocrinology -- Periodicals; Endocrinology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Neuropsychoendocrinologie -- Périodiques; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104583
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-4530

Abstract

Highlights: We measured cardiovascular and cortisol reactivity to acute psychological stress. We compared responses between American Indian and Non-Hispanic White college students. American Indian college students exhibited comparably blunted cortisol, blood pressure and heart rate responses. These effects were not accounted for by differences in task performance or task engagement. Abstract: American Indian adults are at an increased risk for cardiovascular disease compared with non-Hispanic white adults. Scant research exists examining the underlying physiological and psychological mechanisms associated with these risks. This study aimed to examine possible psychological and physiological stress-related mechanisms related to cardiovascular disease risk in healthy American Indian and non-Hispanic white adults. Forty American Indian (60% female, Mean age = 19.93, SD = 2.08 years) and 45 non-Hispanic white (70% female, Mean age = 20.18, SD = 2.22 years) participants attended an in-person laboratory session. Salivary cortisol and cardiovascular activity were measured before (baseline), during, and after exposure to a 10-minute mental arithmetic task. Compared to non-Hispanic white participants, American Indian had diminished salivary cortisol ( p < .001), blood pressure ( p 's < .001), and heart rate ( p = .041) responses to acute psychological stress. These effects could not be accounted for by differences in task performance or self-reported engagement. Previous research has shown that exaggerated responses to stress are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. However, diminished responses to stress are associated with early childhood stress and future adverse behaviors (e.g., addiction, obesity). Diminished reactivity may influence behaviors that can impact future development of cardiovascular disease in American Indian populations.