Interaction of Neighborhood and Genetic Risk on Waist Circumference in African-American Adults: A Longitudinal Study. Issue 8 (11th September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: McDaniel, Tyler; Wilson, Dawn K; Coulon, M Sandra; Sweeney, Allison M; Van Horn, M Lee
• Is Part Of: Annals of behavioral medicine. Volume 55:Issue 8(2021)
• Page Start: 708
• Page End: 719
• Publication Date: 2020-09-11
• Subjects: Genetic risk -- Neighborhood social factors -- Waist circumference -- African Americans; Medicine and psychology -- Periodicals; Sick -- Psychology -- Periodicals; Behavioral Medicine; 616.0019
• DOI: 10.1093/abm/kaaa063
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0883-6612

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Understanding determinants of metabolic risk has become a national priority given the increasingly high prevalence rate of this condition among U.S. adults. Purpose: This study's aim was to assess the impact of gene-by-neighborhood social environment interactions on waist circumference (WC) as a primary marker of metabolic risk in underserved African-American adults. Based on a dual-risk model, it was hypothesized that those with the highest genetic risk and who experienced negative neighborhood environment conditions would demonstrate higher WC than those with fewer risk factors. Methods: This study utilized a subsample of participants from the Positive Action for Today's Health environmental intervention to improve access and safety for walking in higher-crime neighborhoods, who were willing to provide buccal swab samples for genotyping stress-related genetic pathways. Assessments were conducted with 228 African-American adults at baseline, 12, 18, and 24 months. Results: Analyses indicated three significant gene-by-environment interactions on WC outcomes within the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) genetic pathway. Two interactions supported the dual-risk hypotheses, including the SNS genetic risk-by-neighborhood social life interaction ( b = −0.11, t (618) = −2.02, p = .04), and SNS genetic risk-by-informal social control interaction ( b = −0.51, t (618) = −1.95, p = .05) on WC outcomes. These interactions indicated that higher genetic risk and lower social-environmental supports were associated with higher WC. There was also one significant SNS genetic risk-by-neighborhood satisfaction interaction ( b = 1.48, t (618) = 2.23, p = .02) on WC that was inconsistent with the dual-risk pattern. Conclusions: Findings indicate that neighborhood and genetic factors dually influence metabolic risk and that these relations may be complex and warrant further study. Trial Registration: NCT01025726. Abstract : African Americans who experience greater genetic risk related to stress and more negative social neighborhood perceptions, showed greater waist circumferences over two years.