scholarly journals Exploring longitudinal associations between neighborhood disadvantage and cortisol levels in early childhood

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 1649-1662 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric D. Finegood ◽  
Jason R. D. Rarick ◽  
Clancy Blair ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Hpa Axis ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Salivary Cortisol ◽  
Multilevel Models ◽  
Census Data ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Neighborhood Disadvantage ◽  
The United States ◽  
Neighborhood Context ◽  
Cortisol Levels

AbstractChildren who grow up in poverty are more likely to experience chronic stressors that generate “wear” on stress regulatory systems including the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. This can have long-term consequences for health and well-being. Prior research has examined the role of proximal family and home contributions to HPA axis functioning. However, there is evidence to suggest that more distal levels of context, including neighborhoods, also matter. Prior evidence has primarily focused on adolescents and adults, with little evidence linking the neighborhood context with HPA activity in infancy and toddlerhood. We tested whether neighborhood disadvantage (indexed by US Census data) was associated with basal salivary cortisol levels at 7, 15, and 24 months of child age in a large sample of families (N = 1,292) residing in predominately low-income and rural communities in the United States. Multilevel models indicated that neighborhood disadvantage was positively associated with salivary cortisol levels and that this effect emerged across time. This effect was moderated by the race/ethnicity of children such that the association was only observed in White children in our sample. Findings provide preliminary evidence that the neighborhood context is associated with stress regulation during toddlerhood, elucidating a need for future work to address possible mechanisms.

scholarly journals Adverse childhood experiences, daytime salivary cortisol, and depressive symptoms in early adulthood: a longitudinal genetically informed twin study

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleonora Iob ◽  
Jessie R. Baldwin ◽  
Robert Plomin ◽  
Andrew Steptoe
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Hpa Axis ◽  
Salivary Cortisol ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Emotional Abuse ◽  
Early Adulthood ◽  
Cumulative Exposure ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Adverse Childhood ◽  
Cortisol Levels

AbstractDysregulated hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA)-axis function might underlie the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and depression. However, limited research has examined the possible mediating role of the HPA-axis among young people using longitudinal data. Moreover, it remains unclear whether genetic influences could contribute to these associations. Participants were 290 children from the Twins Early Development Study. ACEs were assessed from age 3–11 years. We calculated a cumulative risk score and also derived different ACEs clusters using factor analysis and latent class analysis. HPA-axis activity was indexed by daytime salivary cortisol at age 11. Depressive symptoms were ascertained at age 21. Genetic liability to altered cortisol levels and elevated depressive symptoms was measured using a twin-based method. We performed causal mediation analysis with mixed-effects regression models. The results showed that ACEs cumulative exposure (b = −0.20, p = 0.03), bullying (b = −0.61, p = 0.01), and emotional abuse (b = −0.84, p = 0.02) were associated with lower cortisol levels at age 11. Among participants exposed to multiple ACEs, lower cortisol was related to higher depressive symptoms at age 21 (b = −0.56, p = 0.05). Lower cortisol levels mediated around 10–20% of the total associations of ACEs cumulative exposure, bullying, and dysfunctional parenting/emotional abuse with higher depressive symptoms. Genetic factors contributed to these associations, but the mediation effects of cortisol in the associations of ACEs cumulative exposure (b = 0.16 [0.02–0.34]) and bullying (b = 0.18 [0.01–0.43]) remained when genetic confounding was accounted for. In conclusion, ACEs were linked to elevated depressive symptoms in early adulthood partly through lower cortisol levels in early adolescence, and these relationships were independent of genetic confounding.

scholarly journals Stress of Language Brokering and Mexican American Adolescents’ Adjustment: The Role of Cumulative Risk

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 400-425
Author(s):  
Yishan Shen ◽  
Eunjin Seo ◽  
Dorothy Clare Walt ◽  
Su Yeong Kim
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Mexican American ◽  
Cumulative Risk ◽  
Early Adolescents ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Language Brokering ◽  
Adjustment Problems

This study focused on early adolescents’ stress of language brokering and examined the moderating role of family cumulative risk in the relation of language brokering to adjustment problems. Data came from self-reports of 604 low-income Mexican American adolescent language brokers (54% female; [Formula: see text]= 12.4; SD = 0.97; 75% born in the United States) and their parents (99% foreign-born) in central Texas. Path analyses revealed that brokering stress, but not frequency, was positively associated with adolescents’ adjustment problems, including depressive symptoms, anxiety, and delinquency. We also found that the relation between stress of brokering for mothers and adolescents’ depressive symptoms was stronger among families with a high cumulative risk. Further, with a high cumulative risk, adolescents exhibited delinquent behaviors regardless of the levels of stress from translating for fathers. Current findings underscore the importance of examining family contexts in assessing the consequences of language brokering for Mexican American early adolescents’ well-being.

scholarly journals The Role of Very Low Calorie Ketogenic Diet in Sympathetic Activation through Cortisol Secretion in Male Obese Population

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (18) ◽  
pp. 4230
Author(s):  
Rita Polito ◽  
Giovanni Messina ◽  
Anna Valenzano ◽  
Alessia Scarinci ◽  
Ines Villano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Composition ◽  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Ketogenic Diet ◽  
Hpa Axis ◽  
Salivary Cortisol ◽  
Acute Stress ◽  
Stress Factors ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Low Calorie ◽  
Cortisol Levels

Adipose tissue is considered an endocrine organ, and its excess compromises the immune response and metabolism of hormones and nutrients. Furthermore, the accumulation of visceral fat helps to increase the synthesis of cortisol. The hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is a neuroendocrine system involved in maintaining homeostasis in humans under physiological conditions and stress, and cortisol is the main hormone of the HPA axis. It is known that a stress-induced diet and cortisol reactivity to acute stress factors may be related to dietary behavior. In obesity, to reduce visceral adipose tissue, caloric restriction is a valid strategy. In light of this fact, the aim of this study was to assess the effects of a commercial dietary ketosis program for weight loss on the sympathetic nervous system and HPA axis, through evaluation of salivary cortisol and GSR levels. Thirty obese subjects were recruited and assessed before and after 8 weeks of Very Low Calorie Ketogenic Diet (VLCKD) intervention to evaluate body composition and biochemical parameters. Salivary cortisol levels and GSR significantly decreased after dietary treatment; in addition, body composition and biochemical features were ameliorated. The VLCKD had a short-term positive effect on the SNS and HPA axes regulating salivary cortisol levels. Finally, the effects of the VLCKD on the SNS and HPA axis may lead to more individualized treatment strategies that integrate obesity and stress and support the usefulness of such therapeutic interventions in promoting the reduction of the individual disease burden.

scholarly journals Transportation and Other Nonfinancial Barriers Among Uninsured Primary Care Patients

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 233339281774968 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akiko Kamimura ◽  
Samin Panahi ◽  
Zobayer Ahmmad ◽  
Mu Pye ◽  
Jeanie Ashby
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Underserved Populations ◽  
Unmet Need ◽  
Care Facility ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Safety Net ◽  
The United States ◽  
Free Clinic ◽  
Transportation Barriers

Introduction: Nonfinancial barriers are frequent causes of unmet need in health-care services. The significance of transportation barriers can weigh more than the issues of access to care. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine transportation and other nonfinancial barriers among low-income uninsured patients of a safety net health-care facility (free clinic). Methods: The survey data were collected from patients aged 18 years and older who spoke English or Spanish at a free clinic, which served uninsured individuals in poverty in the United States. Results: Levels of transportation barriers were associated with levels of other nonfinancial barriers. Higher levels of nonfinancial barriers were associated with elevation in levels of stress and poorer self-rated general health. Higher educational attainment and employment were associated with an increase in other nonfinancial barriers. Conclusion: Focusing only on medical interventions might not be sufficient for the well-being of the underserved populations. Future studies should examine integrative care programs that include medical treatment and social services together and evaluate such programs to improve care for underserved populations.

scholarly journals Evaluating The Economic Impact Of Marriage Versus Cohabitation In Same-Sex Couples Age 50+

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 876-876
Author(s):  
Setarreh Massihzadegan ◽  
Jan Mutchler
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Marital Status ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Economic Security ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
Same Sex Couples

Abstract Utilizing the first set of 5-year American Community Survey data available since the United States’ legalization of same-sex marriage in mid-2015, this poster investigates the economic security of older adults (age 50+) in same-sex marriages compared to those in same-sex partnerships who are cohabiting but not married. Viewed through the lens of cumulative disadvantage theory, we consider differences in the economic circumstances of same-sex couples by gender and by geographic location. Findings point to gender differences in economic well-being, but relatively few differences based on marital status. For example, rates of low income are somewhat higher among female couples than among their male counterparts, but marital status differences are not substantial. These findings suggest that the benefits of being married that have long been recognized among older adults may not extend equally to same-sex couples. Findings are discussed with respect to the emerging salience of marriage within the LGBTQ older community, future research opportunities, and important policy implications.

scholarly journals Pileup of Insufficient Sleep and Day-to-Day Trajectories of Affective and Physical Well-Being

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 113-113
Author(s):  
Soomi Lee
Keyword(s):  
Negative Affect ◽  
Multilevel Models ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Vicious Cycle ◽  
Linear Quadratic ◽  
Insufficient Sleep ◽  
Diary Data ◽  
Rate Of Increase

Abstract This study examined whether and how pileup of insufficient sleep is associated with day-to-day trajectories of affective and physical well-being. Participants from the Midlife in the United States Study (N=1,795) provided diary data for eight days. Pileup of insufficient sleep was operationalized as the number of consecutive nights with <6 hours of sleep. Multilevel models evaluated the linear, quadratic, and cubic effects of pileup of insufficient sleep on daily well-being, adjusting for sociodemographic covariates. Daily negative affect increased and positive affect decreased in curvilinear fashion as the pileup of insufficient sleep increased. For example, daily negative affect increased, but the rate of increase decelerated as the pileup of insufficient sleep increased. In the days most distal to baseline, the rate of increase in negative affect accelerated again. Results were consistent for physical symptoms. Findings suggest that making efforts to break the vicious cycle of insufficient sleep may protect daily well-being.

Young People and Disadvantaged Environments in Affluent Countries

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirsten Visser
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Personal Characteristics ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Structural Factors ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
Rural Environments

Many social scientists over the last decades have focused on the question of the impacts of poverty on people. Studies in this field primarily examine the effects of social, cultural, and economic resources and structural factors on the development, social outcomes, and well-being of an individual. In the last decades, scholarly interest has increasingly focused on poverty among children and adolescents (hereafter “young people”). Young people are seen as a nation’s future, which forms a reason for societal concern with their well-being and developmental outcomes. In addition, scholars increasingly acknowledge that poverty is multidimensional and heterogenous: the effects of poverty differ according to personal characteristics such as age, gender, race/ethnicity, or disability, but they are also exemplified by the disadvantaged environments in which young people find themselves, such as dysfunctional families, deprived neighborhoods, and low-quality schools. This article gives an overview of the most important works in the field of the effects of poverty and disadvantaged environments on young people (0–18 years of age). As the nature of poverty differs significantly between affluent countries and low-income developing countries, this review is focused on studies in the United States, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. Given the fact that disadvantage, and the different effects thereof on young people, can be approached from the perspectives offered by different social sciences, publications from geography, sociology, social work, anthropology, economics, and (environmental) psychology are included in this review. This article departs from the idea of ecological models, assuming that poverty impacts children within their various contexts such as the home, school, and neighborhood. After presenting general works on poverty among young people, attention is given to the impacts of disadvantages in home, neighborhood, and school environments. Most studies that are discussed in this review deal with disadvantage in urban areas, reflecting the focus of the overall literature in affluent countries. However, poverty and disadvantage also differ between urban and rural environments. Therefore, the article ends with an overview of literature on poverty among young people in rural areas.

scholarly journals 0360 Neighborhood Disadvantage is Associated with Lower Quality Sleep and More Variability in Weeknight Sleep Duration Among Urban Adolescents

SLEEP ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A137-A138
Author(s):  
N G Nahmod ◽  
L Master ◽  
H F McClintock ◽  
L Hale ◽  
O M Buxton
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Duration ◽  
Summer School ◽  
Multilevel Models ◽  
Census Data ◽  
National Level ◽  
Neighborhood Disadvantage ◽  
Disadvantaged Neighborhoods ◽  
Falling Asleep ◽  
Adolescent Sleep ◽  
Race Ethnicity

Abstract Introduction Differential social and contextual environments may contribute to adolescent sleep disparities. Yet, most prior studies are limited to self-reported sleep data, and the actigraphic studies of sleep are not conducted at a national level, thus limiting the variation in neighborhood contexts. This study examined the association between neighborhood disadvantage and actigraphic assessment of adolescent sleep. Methods Participants (682 adolescents, mean age 15.4 years) were racially/ethnically diverse (44% Black, 26% Hispanic, 17% White, 14% other race/ethnicity), sampled from 20 large US cities in the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study. Neighborhood disadvantage was calculated from American Community Survey 2015 census data using the Standardized Neighborhood Deprivation Index (SNDI), consolidating five variables (proportion of female-headed households, public assistance recipients, households in poverty, adults without high school degrees, and unemployed) into an index. SNDI quartiles 1-3 fell below national averages of SNDI variables (“most disadvantaged”) and were compared to quartile 4 (“least disadvantaged”). Sleep indicators (duration, quality, and timing) were measured over ≥5 nights using wrist-worn accelerometers. Separate multilevel models estimated differences in sleep indicators, adjusting for weekday/weekend and summer/school year. General linear models used within-person standard deviations of sleep indicators (controlling for number of days) to test for associations between neighborhood disadvantage and consistency of weeknight sleep patterns. Models adjusted for individual-level sociodemographic covariates (age, sex, race/ethnicity, household income, caregiver education, and family structure). Results In fully adjusted models, adolescents living in more disadvantaged neighborhoods spent more time awake after falling asleep (4.0 minutes/night, p<0.05), spent greater percentage of nighttime sleep intervals awake (1%, p<.01), and had less consistent sleep duration (11.7% higher standard deviation, p<.05). Sleep duration and timing did not differ across neighborhood groups. Conclusion Living in more disadvantaged neighborhoods is associated with lower quality adolescent sleep; more research is needed to identify causal mechanisms. Support Research was supported by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), award numbers R01HD073352 (PI: Hale), R01HD36916, R01HD39135, and R01 HD40421, and private foundations. The content is the responsibility of the authors and does not represent official NIH views.

scholarly journals Social and Health Disparities Among Relocated Public Housing Residents by Age: Implications for Aging in Place

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 484-484
Author(s):  
Nia Reed ◽  
Tiffany Young
Keyword(s):  
Built Environment ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Public Housing ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Oldest Old ◽  
Aging In Place ◽  
Group Analysis ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Neighborhood Context ◽  
Forced Relocation

Abstract Research illustrates that neighborhood outcomes (including the built environment) influence the mental and physical health of vulnerable older adults (OA). Many OA aim to age-in-place but aging-in-place is less realistic for low-income OA because of gentrification and forced relocation. Examining neighborhood context is vital to understanding how the places we live contribute to well-being, yet, there is insufficient research on the biopsychosocial effects of forced relocation on low-income OA. To address this gap, our study uses aging-in-place theory to understand the association of neighborhood and health outcomes of relocated and nonrelocated low-income OA in public housing. This study includes three waves of data from Georgia State University’s Urban Health Initiative Study. Participants (n=225) were categorized by age (young-old = 50-64; old-old = 65-74; and oldest-old = 75+). We conducted multivariate regression analyses to highlight relationships between neighborhood and health outcomes, and relocation. We used geocoding to provide within-group analysis of relocated residents to determine if geographic proximity to former public housing communities affected neighborhood and health outcomes. Results show that relocated OA have worse informal social control and neighborhood satisfaction outcomes, but better built environment conditions than those who aged-in-place. Mental health and physical functioning worsened for relocated OA. Relocation was associated with reduced social cohesion and worse built environment conditions for the oldest-old. Moderation analysis illustrated that OA who relocated farther away had worse neighborhood outcomes. Considering the importance of aging-in-place to OA well-being, policymakers may reconsider forced relocation and allocating funds to enhance neighborhoods.

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