title: Not just sticks and stones: Indirect ethnic discrimination leads to greater physiological reactivity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We examined the effect of indirect ethnic discrimination on physiological reactivity (i.e., cortisol, blood pressure, heart rate) in Latino emerging adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants (N = 32) were randomly assigned to be exposed to indirect ethnic discrimination (experimental condition) or not (control condition) while undergoing a cognitive stress task.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Greater total cortisol output was observed in participants in the experimental condition, relative to those in the control condition. No significant differences in heart rate or blood pressure were noted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggest that witnessing ethnic discrimination affects cortisol recovery responses, but not cardiovascular reactivity. Words that are not intentionally hurtful or directed at a specific person may still "hurt"-affecting biological processes associated with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis and potentially leading to long-term health consequences. (PsycINFO Database Record
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Development, California State University, Northridge.
authors.forename: Virginia W
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Huynh
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, California State University, Northridge.
authors.forename: Que-Lam
authors.initials: QL
authors.lastname: Huynh
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, California State University, Northridge.
authors.forename: Mary-Patricia
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Stein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D019601:Pacific States; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D063505:Racism / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D063508:Social Discrimination / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone