title: Exposure to Discrimination and Heart Rate Variability Reactivity to Acute Stress among Women with Diabetes.
abstract: Exposure to racial discrimination has been linked to physiological reactivity. This study investigated self-reported exposure to racial discrimination and parasympathetic [high-frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV)] and sympathetic (norepinephrine and cortisol) activity at baseline and then again after acute laboratory stress. Lifetime exposure to racial discrimination was measured with the Schedule of Racist Events scale. Thirty-two women (16 Black and 16 White) with type 2 diabetes performed a public speaking stressor. Beat-to-beat intervals were recorded on electrocardiograph recorders, and HF-HRV was calculated using spectral analysis and natural log transformed. Norepinephrine and cortisol were measured in blood. Higher discrimination predicted lower stressor HF-HRV, even after controlling for baseline HF-HRV. When race, age, A1c and baseline systolic blood pressure were also controlled, racial discrimination remained a significant independent predictor of stressor HF-HRV. There was no association between lifetime discrimination and sympathetic markers. In conclusion, preliminary data suggest that among women with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), exposure to racial discrimination is adversely associated with parasympathetic, but not sympathetic, reactivity.
authors.affiliation: MC3910 Division of Behavioral Sciences and Community Health, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lampert
authors.affiliation: Howard Tennen, Department of Community Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Cente, Farmington, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tennen
authors.affiliation: Quinnipiac University School of Medicine, Hamden, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Feinn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044383:Black People / Q000523:psychology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood; D063505:Racism / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology; D001741:Black or African American
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone; D009638:Norepinephrine
keywords: autonomic reactivity; diabetes; discrimination; heart rate variability; women