Behavioral reactivity to acute stress among Black and White women with type 2 diabetes: The roles of income and racial discrimination

Abstract

This study investigated relationships of income and self-reported racial discrimination to diabetes health behaviors following an acute stressor. A total of 77 diabetic women (51% Black, 49% White) completed a laboratory public speaking stressor. That evening, participants reported same-day eating, alcohol consumption, and medication adherence; physical activity was measured with actigraphy, and the next morning participants reported sleep quality. Measures were repeated on a counterbalanced control day. There was no mean level difference in health behaviors between stressor and control days. On stressor day, lower income predicted lower physical activity, sleep quality, and medication adherence, and higher racial discrimination predicted more eating and alcohol consumed, even after accounting confounders including race and control day behaviors.

A randomized, controlled trial of a stress management intervention for Latinos with type 2 diabetes delivered by community health workers: Outcomes for psychological wellbeing, glycemic control, and cortisol

“…Moreover, negative psychosocial factors are associated with worse diabetes outcomes including glycemic control, long-term complications, and premature mortality (see [15] for a review of psychosocial factors among minorities with diabetes). Such associations may be direct, via elevations in stress hormones including cortisol [16] or indirect by compromising self-care behaviors, [17]. Thus, addressing the psychological wellbeing of minorities with diabetes is paramount.…”

Sleep Characteristics in Adults of African Descent at Risk for and with Cardiometabolic Conditions: A Systematic Review

“…Were the outcome measures (dependent variables) clearly defined, valid, reliable, and implemented consistently across all study participants? Self-report sleep satisfaction was reported in 14 studies [31,33,34,[38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50]. A variety of measures were used across studies: the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) Global Score (n = 3) [41,44,50], the Berlin Sleep Questionnaire (n = 1) [34], the Sleep Index for Midlife Women (n = 1) [42], and the Caring for End Stage Renal Disease Health Experience Questionnaire sleep scale (n = 1) [31].…”

Perceived Stress as a Pathway for the Relationship Between Neighborhood Factors and Glycemic Control in Adults With Diabetes

“…20 Finally, evidence suggests that across these 3 neighborhood factors of discrimination, crime, and violence, all 3 may also influence diabetes self-care behaviors and HbA1c through exposure to chronic stress. 21…”

“…20 Finally, evidence suggests that across these 3 neighborhood factors of discrimination, crime, and violence, all 3 may also influence diabetes self-care behaviors and HbA1c through exposure to chronic stress. 21 Stress is one of the major hypothesized mechanisms for why neighborhood factors affect health outcomes. 22 Stress, both acute and chronic, are shown to have negative effects on overall health via physiological and psychosocial pathways 22,23 and confers significant risk for developing diabetes.…”