Acculturative stress and inflammation among Chinese immigrant women.
OBJECTIVE
Among Chinese immigrant populations, increasing duration of US residence is associated with elevated risk for various chronic diseases. Although life-style changes after migration have been extensively studied in immigrant populations, the psychosocial impact of acculturative stress on biological markers of health is less understood. Thus, the purpose of the present study is to examine associations between acculturative stress and inflammatory markers in a Chinese immigrant population.


METHODS
Study participants (n = 407 foreign-born Chinese American women) completed questionnaires assessing levels of stress, including acculturative stress and positive and negative life events in the previous year. Participant height and weight were measured using standard protocols, and blood samples were drawn for assessment of circulating serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 (sTNFR2).


RESULTS
Higher levels of acculturative stress were significantly associated with higher levels of CRP (B = 0.07, 95% confidence interval = 0.01-0.13, p = .031) and sTNFR2 (B = 0.02, 95% confidence interval = 0.004-0.03, p = .012), adjusting for age and body mass index. The latter association was no longer statistically significant when overall acculturation (i.e., identification with American culture) was included in the model. Life events were not associated with CRP or sTNFR2.


CONCLUSIONS
This is one of the first studies to demonstrate that acculturative stress is associated with inflammatory markers in a Chinese immigrant population. Replication in other immigrant samples is needed to fully establish the biological correlates and clinical consequences of acculturative stress.
From the Cancer Prevention and Control Program (C.Y.F., E.A.R.) and Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics (E.A.R.), Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (H.B.P., A.K.G.), University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas; University of Kansas Cancer Center (A.K.G.), Kansas City, Kansas; and Kinesiology Department (M.T.), California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, California.
Carolyn Y
CY
Fang
Eric A
EA
Ross
Harsh B
HB
Pathak
Andrew K
AK
Godwin
Marilyn
M
Tseng
D000069:Acculturation; D000328:Adult; D001213:Asian / Q000523:psychology*; D015415:Biomarkers; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D003863:Depression / Q000208:ethnology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000208:ethnology; D004032:Diet; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D008016:Life Change Events; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D015143:Philadelphia / Q000453:epidemiology; D047889:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II / Q000097:blood; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*
D015415:Biomarkers; D047889:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II; D002097:C-Reactive Protein