Sexual orientation and salivary alpha-amylase diurnal rhythms in a cohort of U.S. young adults. (November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Austin, S. Bryn; Rosario, Margaret; McLaughlin, Katie A.; Roberts, Andrea L.; Sarda, Vishnudas; Yu, Kimberly; Missmer, Stacey; Anatale-Tardiff, Laura; Scherer, Emily A.
• Is Part Of: Psychoneuroendocrinology. Volume 97(2018)
• Page Start: 78
• Page End: 85
• Publication Date: 2018-11
• Subjects: Sexual orientation -- Alpha-amylase -- sAA -- Diurnal rhythm -- Sympathetic nervous system -- SNS -- Young adults; Psychoneuroendocrinology -- Periodicals; Endocrinology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Neuropsychoendocrinologie -- Périodiques; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.07.006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-4530

Abstract

Highlights: Stress and attachment paradigms suggest sexual minorities may experience physiological stress response dysregulation. Sympathetic nervous system (SNS) dysregulation can result from social stressors like those experienced by sexual minorities. It is not known if there might be sexual orientation disparities in SNS biomarker diurnal salivary alpha-amylase (sAA). In a cohort of 1663 young adults, sexual minority women but not men showed sAA dysregulation compared to heterosexuals. Stress and attachment paradigms may help to explain sex differences in sexual orientation-related SNS dysregulation. Abstract: Sexual minorities in the United States are at elevated risk of prejudice, discrimination, and violence victimization due to stigma associated with their sexual orientation. These stressors may contribute to physiological stress responses and changes in the regulation of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). To date, no studies have examined the associations among minority sexual orientation, recent stressful events, and diurnal salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) patterns. The present study included 1663 young adults ages 18–32 years (31% men, 69% women) from the Growing Up Today Study, a prospective cohort of U.S. youth. Participants provided five saliva samples over the course of one day to estimate diurnal sAA patterns. Sexual orientation groups included completely heterosexual with no same-sex partners (CH; referent), mostly heterosexual/completely heterosexual with same-sex partners, and gay/lesbian/bisexual (LB or GB). Sex-stratified multilevel models were fit to evaluate the association of sexual orientation with diurnal patterns of log sAA. The association of recent stressful events was also evaluated. Among women, sexual minorities scored significantly higher than CH on perceived stress and number of stressful events in the past month (p < 0.05). Among men, sexual minorities scored higher than CH on perceived stress but not recent stressful events. In multivariable models, recent stressful events were not associated with sAA patterns, but significant sexual orientation group differences in sAA diurnal rhythm were observed among women though not among men. Compared to CH women, LB showed a blunted awakening response and elevated sAA levels across the day, both indicators consistent with SNS dysregulation. Findings suggest dysregulation of stress physiology in LB women, but not other sexual minority women or men, relative to same-sex heterosexuals. Observed dysregulation may relate to exposure among LB women to chronic stressors associated with sexual orientation stigma, although these relations and differences by sex warrant further study.