Examining links between daily stressor appraisals and C-reactive protein levels in Black and White women: The National Growth and Health Study
Background: Racial disparities in health have reached a critical juncture, particularly between Black and White individuals. Inflammation and daily stress have been proposed as biopsychological pathways. However, studies examining links between inflammation and individuals' appraisals of daily...
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| Format: | Article |
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Elsevier
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Brain, Behavior, & Immunity - Health |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666354625000936 |
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| author | Sarah E. Ahmadi Joanna Y. Guan Meital Mashash Elissa J. Hamlat Mahasin S. Mujahid A. Janet Tomiyama Barbara A. Laraia Elissa S. Epel Stefanie E. Mayer |
| author_facet | Sarah E. Ahmadi Joanna Y. Guan Meital Mashash Elissa J. Hamlat Mahasin S. Mujahid A. Janet Tomiyama Barbara A. Laraia Elissa S. Epel Stefanie E. Mayer |
| author_sort | Sarah E. Ahmadi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Racial disparities in health have reached a critical juncture, particularly between Black and White individuals. Inflammation and daily stress have been proposed as biopsychological pathways. However, studies examining links between inflammation and individuals' appraisals of daily stressors—which are modifiable and could be intervention targets—have been limited in diverse populations. This study investigated these associations in a sample of Black and White women. Methods: Midlife women (159 Black, 163 White) were part of a prospective cohort study in which they completed daily evening diaries assessing appraisals of daily stressor demands and coping efficacy (feeling in control, efficacious, resourceful). Participants also provided a fasting blood sample which was assessed for high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), a systemic inflammatory marker. Multiple linear regression models examined associations between race, daily stressor appraisals, and interactions with hs-CRP, controlling for education, income, and body mass index. Race-stratified models were also examined. Results: The interaction between race and coping efficacy, but not stressor demands, was significantly associated with hs-CRP. Specifically, more positive appraisal of coping efficacy was linked with lower hs-CRP levels in White women (Beta = −0.147, p = .024), but not in Black women (Beta = 0.078, p = .226). Discussion: For White women, greater perceived coping efficacy with daily stressors may buffer stress-related inflammation, providing a promising intervention target. Given the scarcity of daily stress research with diverse samples, we need to better measure and understand these relationships in Black samples and other racial and ethnic groups. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ec6e43aabd7d4ea7aa40a194f93a41fb |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 2666-3546 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Brain, Behavior, & Immunity - Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-ec6e43aabd7d4ea7aa40a194f93a41fb2025-07-30T04:17:44ZengElsevierBrain, Behavior, & Immunity - Health2666-35462025-08-0147101035Examining links between daily stressor appraisals and C-reactive protein levels in Black and White women: The National Growth and Health StudySarah E. Ahmadi0Joanna Y. Guan1Meital Mashash2Elissa J. Hamlat3Mahasin S. Mujahid4A. Janet Tomiyama5Barbara A. Laraia6Elissa S. Epel7Stefanie E. Mayer8University of Connecticut, Department of Psychological Sciences, 406 Babbidge Road, Unit 1020, Storrs, CT, 06269, USAUniversity of California, Department of Psychology, 135 Young Hall, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USAUniversity of California, Osher Center for Integrative Health, 1545 Divisadero Street, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA, 94115, USAUniversity of California, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 675 18th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94107, USAUniversity of California, School of Public Health, 2121 Berkeley Way, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USAUniversity of California, Department of Psychology, 1285 Franz Hall, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USAUniversity of California, School of Public Health, 2121 Berkeley Way, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USAUniversity of California, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 675 18th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94107, USAUniversity of California, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 675 18th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94107, USA; Corresponding author.Background: Racial disparities in health have reached a critical juncture, particularly between Black and White individuals. Inflammation and daily stress have been proposed as biopsychological pathways. However, studies examining links between inflammation and individuals' appraisals of daily stressors—which are modifiable and could be intervention targets—have been limited in diverse populations. This study investigated these associations in a sample of Black and White women. Methods: Midlife women (159 Black, 163 White) were part of a prospective cohort study in which they completed daily evening diaries assessing appraisals of daily stressor demands and coping efficacy (feeling in control, efficacious, resourceful). Participants also provided a fasting blood sample which was assessed for high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), a systemic inflammatory marker. Multiple linear regression models examined associations between race, daily stressor appraisals, and interactions with hs-CRP, controlling for education, income, and body mass index. Race-stratified models were also examined. Results: The interaction between race and coping efficacy, but not stressor demands, was significantly associated with hs-CRP. Specifically, more positive appraisal of coping efficacy was linked with lower hs-CRP levels in White women (Beta = −0.147, p = .024), but not in Black women (Beta = 0.078, p = .226). Discussion: For White women, greater perceived coping efficacy with daily stressors may buffer stress-related inflammation, providing a promising intervention target. Given the scarcity of daily stress research with diverse samples, we need to better measure and understand these relationships in Black samples and other racial and ethnic groups.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666354625000936Daily stressStressor appraisalC-Reactive proteinInflammationRace |
| spellingShingle | Sarah E. Ahmadi Joanna Y. Guan Meital Mashash Elissa J. Hamlat Mahasin S. Mujahid A. Janet Tomiyama Barbara A. Laraia Elissa S. Epel Stefanie E. Mayer Examining links between daily stressor appraisals and C-reactive protein levels in Black and White women: The National Growth and Health Study Brain, Behavior, & Immunity - Health Daily stress Stressor appraisal C-Reactive protein Inflammation Race |
| title | Examining links between daily stressor appraisals and C-reactive protein levels in Black and White women: The National Growth and Health Study |
| title_full | Examining links between daily stressor appraisals and C-reactive protein levels in Black and White women: The National Growth and Health Study |
| title_fullStr | Examining links between daily stressor appraisals and C-reactive protein levels in Black and White women: The National Growth and Health Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Examining links between daily stressor appraisals and C-reactive protein levels in Black and White women: The National Growth and Health Study |
| title_short | Examining links between daily stressor appraisals and C-reactive protein levels in Black and White women: The National Growth and Health Study |
| title_sort | examining links between daily stressor appraisals and c reactive protein levels in black and white women the national growth and health study |
| topic | Daily stress Stressor appraisal C-Reactive protein Inflammation Race |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666354625000936 |
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