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Impact of Racial Discrimination and Hostility on Adrenergic Receptor Responsiveness in African American Adults.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Hill, LK; Sherwood, A; McNeilly, M; Anderson, NB; Blumenthal, JA; Hinderliter, AL
Published in: Psychosom Med
2018

OBJECTIVE: Racial discrimination is increasingly recognized as a contributor to increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among African Americans. Previous research has shown significant overlap between racial discrimination and hostility, an established predictor of CVD risk including alterations in adrenergic receptor functioning. The present study examined the associations of racial discrimination and hostility with adrenergic receptor responsiveness. METHODS: In a sample (N = 57) of young to middle-aged African American adults (51% female) with normal and mildly elevated blood pressure, a standardized isoproterenol sensitivity test (CD25) was used to evaluate β-AR responsiveness, whereas the dose of phenylephrine required to increase mean arterial pressure by 25 mm Hg (PD25) was used to assess α1-AR responsiveness. Racial discrimination was measured using the Perceived Racism Scale and hostility was assessed using the Cook-Medley Hostility Scale. RESULTS: In hierarchical regression models, greater racial discrimination, but not hostility, emerged as a significant predictor of decreased β-adrenergic receptor responsiveness (β = .38, p = .004). However, moderation analysis revealed that the association between racial discrimination and blunted β-adrenergic receptor responsiveness was strongest among those with higher hostility (β = .49, 95% confidence interval = .17-.82, p = .004). In addition, hostility, but not racial discrimination, significantly predicted α1-AR responsiveness. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest racial discrimination was associated with blunted β-adrenergic receptor responsiveness, providing further evidence of the potential contribution of racial discrimination to increased CVD risk among African Americans. The adverse effects of discrimination on cardiovascular health may be enhanced in individuals with higher levels of hostility.

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Published In

Psychosom Med

DOI

EISSN

1534-7796

Publication Date

2018

Volume

80

Issue

2

Start / End Page

208 / 215

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, beta
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1
  • Racism
  • Psychiatry
  • Phenylephrine
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Isoproterenol
  • Humans
 

Citation

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Hill, L. K., Sherwood, A., McNeilly, M., Anderson, N. B., Blumenthal, J. A., & Hinderliter, A. L. (2018). Impact of Racial Discrimination and Hostility on Adrenergic Receptor Responsiveness in African American Adults. Psychosom Med, 80(2), 208–215. https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0000000000000547
Hill, LaBarron K., Andrew Sherwood, Maya McNeilly, Norman B. Anderson, James A. Blumenthal, and Alan L. Hinderliter. “Impact of Racial Discrimination and Hostility on Adrenergic Receptor Responsiveness in African American Adults.Psychosom Med 80, no. 2 (2018): 208–15. https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0000000000000547.
Hill LK, Sherwood A, McNeilly M, Anderson NB, Blumenthal JA, Hinderliter AL. Impact of Racial Discrimination and Hostility on Adrenergic Receptor Responsiveness in African American Adults. Psychosom Med. 2018;80(2):208–15.
Hill, LaBarron K., et al. “Impact of Racial Discrimination and Hostility on Adrenergic Receptor Responsiveness in African American Adults.Psychosom Med, vol. 80, no. 2, 2018, pp. 208–15. Pubmed, doi:10.1097/PSY.0000000000000547.
Hill LK, Sherwood A, McNeilly M, Anderson NB, Blumenthal JA, Hinderliter AL. Impact of Racial Discrimination and Hostility on Adrenergic Receptor Responsiveness in African American Adults. Psychosom Med. 2018;80(2):208–215.

Published In

Psychosom Med

DOI

EISSN

1534-7796

Publication Date

2018

Volume

80

Issue

2

Start / End Page

208 / 215

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, beta
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1
  • Racism
  • Psychiatry
  • Phenylephrine
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Isoproterenol
  • Humans