title: Role models and the psychological characteristics that buffer low-socioeconomic-status youth from cardiovascular risk.
abstract: Little is understood about why some youth from low-socioeconomic-status (SES) environments exhibit good health despite adversity. This study tested whether role models and "shift-and-persist" approaches (reframing stressors more benignly while persisting with future optimism) protect low-SES youth from cardiovascular risk. A total of 163 youth, ages 13-16, completed role model interviews and shift-and-persist measures while cholesterol and inflammatory markers, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and C-reactive protein were assessed. Low-SES youth with supportive role models had lower IL-6. Low-SES youth high in shift-and-persist also had lower IL-6. Shift-and-persist partially mediated the interaction of SES and role models on IL-6. Benefits were not found among high-SES youth. Identifying psychological buffers in low-SES youth has implications for health disparities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Canada. echen@psych.ubc.ca
authors.forename: Edith
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: William K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cavey
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ho
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012380:Role; D012923:Social Class; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6