title: Psychosocial Predictors of Metabolic Syndrome among Latino Groups in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We sought to determine the contribution of psychological variables to risk for metabolic syndrome (MetS) among Latinos enrolled in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), and to investigate whether social support moderates these associations, and whether inflammatory markers mediate the association between psychological variables and MetS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional analyses at study baseline were conducted with a national Latino cohort (n = 1,388) that included Mexican Americans, Dominican Americans, Puerto Rican Americans and Central/South Americans. Hierarchical logistic regression analyses were conducted to test the effects of psychosocial variables (chronic stress, depressive symptoms, and social support) on MetS. In addition, separate subgroup-specific models, controlling for nationality, age, gender, socioeconomic position, language spoken at home, exercise, smoking and drinking status, and testing for the effects of chronic stress, depressive symptoms and inflammation (IL-6, CRP, fibrinogen) in predicting risk for MetS were conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the overall sample, high chronic stress independently predicted risk for MetS, however this association was found to be significant only in Mexican Americans and Puerto Rican Americans. Social support did not moderate the associations between chronic stress and MetS for any group. Chronic stress was not associated with inflammatory markers in either the overall sample or in each group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest a differential contribution of chronic stress to the prevalence of MetS by national groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile.
authors.forename: Manuel S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Ortiz
authors.affiliation: Center for Medicine, Health & Society and Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America.
authors.forename: Hector F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Myers
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dunkel Schetter
authors.affiliation: Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States of America.
authors.forename: Carlos J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.affiliation: David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America.
authors.forename: Teresa E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Seeman
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000208:ethnology / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D002097:C-Reactive Protein