Discrimination is associated with C-reactive protein among young sexual minority men

Cook, Stephanie; Slopen, Natalie; Scarimbolo, Laura; Mirin, Nicholas; Wood, Erica P.; Rosendale, Nicole; Chunara, Rumi; Burke, Colin W.; Halkitis, Perry N.

doi:10.1007/s10865-022-00307-4

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…There is preliminary evidence supporting the link between stigma and inflammation among sexual minorities. Exposure to discrimination is associated with increased levels of CRP among sexual minority men (Cook et al., 2022). In addition, exposure to discrimination explains differences in levels of both CRP and IL‐6 by sexual orientation (Wardecker et al., 2021).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thwarted belonging needs: A mechanism prospectively linking multiple levels of stigma and interpersonal outcomes among sexual minorities

Lattanner

Hatzenbuehler

2022

Journal of Social Issues

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The association between stigma and adverse interpersonal outcomes is well established. However, the mechanisms underlying this association have yet to be comprehensively conceptualized and tested, in part because research has neglected to evaluate stigma across multiple levels. To address this gap, we examined whether stigma-measured at individual, interpersonal, and structural levels-prospectively affects loneliness and social support by thwarting fundamental belonging needs, using a longitudinal sample of 315 gay men. Results indicated that thwarted belonging needs prospectively mediated the association between interpersonal discrimination, internalized homonegativity, and concealment motivation and changes in loneliness and lack of social support. When indirect pathways were tested simultaneously, discrimination was uniquely associated with reductions in social support via thwarted belonging needs. In addition, the prospective association between objectively-measured structural stigma (at the state and county levels) and loneliness and lack of social support was serially mediated by perceptions of structural stigma and thwarted belonging needs.To guide future work, we propose a model outlining

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thwarted belonging needs: A mechanism prospectively linking multiple levels of stigma and interpersonal outcomes among sexual minorities

Lattanner

Hatzenbuehler

2022

Journal of Social Issues

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“…This study was conducted in supplement to a larger study on psychosocial predictors of CVD risk in SMM. Extensive descriptions of sample recruitment, characteristics, and measures can be found elsewhere (Cook, Slopen, et al, 2022; Cook, Wood, et al, 2022). Here, we provide a brief overview of aspects most salient to the present investigation.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk is higher among sexual minority men (SMM) compared to heterosexual men (Caceres et al, 2017; Cook, Slopen, et al, 2022). SMM also have higher rates of modifiable CVD risk factors, including tobacco and alcohol use (Caceres et al, 2017), as well as hypertension (Caceres et al, 2022).…”

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confidence: 99%

Personal justice beliefs, everyday discrimination, and carotid intima media thickness in sexual minority men.

Maschino,

Cook,

Lucas

2024

Health Psychology

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Objective: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) disproportionately affects sexual minority men (SMM) and is linked to discrimination-related stress. Belief in a just world-including the belief that one personally gets what one deserves (personal justice beliefs)-is a coping strategy that can protect against discrimination-related stress and CVD risk. Here, we examine links between personal justice beliefs, perceived everyday discrimination, and carotid intima media thickness (cIMT)-a measure of atherosclerosis that can indicate subclinical CVD. Method: Sexual minority White (29%) and racial minority (African American 18.8%, mixed/other 44.9%) male young adults (N = 69) completed measures of personal justice beliefs and everyday discrimination. cIMT imaging was used to compute common carotid artery (CCA) intima media thickness. Results: Hierarchical multiple regressions revealed associations between justice beliefs, perceived discrimination, and cIMT that were moderated by age. Consistent with prior research, personal justice beliefs predicted less perceived discrimination, especially among older SMM. However, personal justice beliefs were also linked to greater rather than less CCA among older SMM. Conclusions: Relationships between believing in justice and CVD may be complex among minority groups. Among SMM, the belief in personal justice may reduce perceived discrimination, but may be simultaneously deleteriously associated with biological processes that underlie CVD. Public Significance StatementSexual minority men (SMM) are at increased risk for experiencing stress from discrimination and cardiovascular disease. This study highlights that coping with stress by believing the world is fair to oneself (personal justice beliefs) may provide SMM with mixed benefits. Although personal justice beliefs are associated with lower reported discrimination, they may be simultaneously associated with higher subclinical atherosclerosis, highlighting complex effects of believing in justice for SMM.

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“…Even if most studies have found that sex can modulate systemic inflammation, there also exist contrasting data highlighting that frequent sex can affect inflammatory markers [ 1069 ]. Apart from some previously discussed psychological conditions and cognitive decline, lower IQ levels in youth have been linked to low-grade systemic inflammation, whereas an interesting study demonstrated that daily discrimination, but not direct microaggressions based on sexual orientation, were linked to higher levels of CRP among young sexual-minority men, highlighting the immune vulnerability of the LGBT+ community [ 1070 , 1071 ]. Additionally, hypoxia and altitude as well as cold ambient temperature and increased temperatures have been associated with elevated CRP levels, and furthermore, unstable weather due to global climate change can affect hsCRP, too [ 1072 , 1073 , 1074 , 1075 , 1076 ].…”

Section: Current Evidence On C-reactive Protein and Potential Conditionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

C-Reactive Protein: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, False Test Results and a Novel Diagnostic Algorithm for Clinicians

Mouliou

2023

Diseases

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The current literature provides a body of evidence on C-Reactive Protein (CRP) and its potential role in inflammation. However, most pieces of evidence are sparse and controversial. This critical state-of-the-art monography provides all the crucial data on the potential biochemical properties of the protein, along with further evidence on its potential pathobiology, both for its pentameric and monomeric forms, including information for its ligands as well as the possible function of autoantibodies against the protein. Furthermore, the current evidence on its potential utility as a biomarker of various diseases is presented, of all cardiovascular, respiratory, hepatobiliary, gastrointestinal, pancreatic, renal, gynecological, andrological, dental, oral, otorhinolaryngological, ophthalmological, dermatological, musculoskeletal, neurological, mental, splenic, thyroid conditions, as well as infections, autoimmune-supposed conditions and neoplasms, including other possible factors that have been linked with elevated concentrations of that protein. Moreover, data on molecular diagnostics on CRP are discussed, and possible etiologies of false test results are highlighted. Additionally, this review evaluates all current pieces of evidence on CRP and systemic inflammation, and highlights future goals. Finally, a novel diagnostic algorithm to carefully assess the CRP level for a precise diagnosis of a medical condition is illustrated.

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Discrimination is associated with C-reactive protein among young sexual minority men

Cited by 5 publications

References 43 publications

Thwarted belonging needs: A mechanism prospectively linking multiple levels of stigma and interpersonal outcomes among sexual minorities

Thwarted belonging needs: A mechanism prospectively linking multiple levels of stigma and interpersonal outcomes among sexual minorities

Personal justice beliefs, everyday discrimination, and carotid intima media thickness in sexual minority men.

C-Reactive Protein: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, False Test Results and a Novel Diagnostic Algorithm for Clinicians

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