Mark L Hatzenbuehler1, Katie A McLaughlin. 1. Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th Street, Room 549.B, New York, NY, 10032, USA, mlh2101@columbia.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Youth exposed to extreme adverse life conditions have blunted cortisol responses to stress. PURPOSE: This study aims to examine whether growing up in highly stigmatizing environments similarly shapes stigmatized individuals' physiological responses to identity-related stress. METHODS: We recruited 74 lesbian, gay, and bisexual young adults (mean age = 23.68) from 24 states with varying levels of structural stigma surrounding homosexuality. State-level structural stigma was coded based on several dimensions, including policies that exclude sexual minorities from social institutions (e.g., same-sex marriage). Participants were exposed to a laboratory stressor, the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), and neuroendocrine measures were collected. RESULTS: Lesbian, gay, and bisexual young adults who were raised in highly stigmatizing environments as adolescents evidenced a blunted cortisol response following the TSST compared to those from low-stigma environments. CONCLUSIONS: The stress of growing up in environments that target gays and lesbians for social exclusion may exert biological effects that are similar to traumatic life experiences.
BACKGROUND: Youth exposed to extreme adverse life conditions have blunted cortisol responses to stress. PURPOSE: This study aims to examine whether growing up in highly stigmatizing environments similarly shapes stigmatized individuals' physiological responses to identity-related stress. METHODS: We recruited 74 lesbian, gay, and bisexual young adults (mean age = 23.68) from 24 states with varying levels of structural stigma surrounding homosexuality. State-level structural stigma was coded based on several dimensions, including policies that exclude sexual minorities from social institutions (e.g., same-sex marriage). Participants were exposed to a laboratory stressor, the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), and neuroendocrine measures were collected. RESULTS: Lesbian, gay, and bisexual young adults who were raised in highly stigmatizing environments as adolescents evidenced a blunted cortisol response following the TSST compared to those from low-stigma environments. CONCLUSIONS: The stress of growing up in environments that target gays and lesbians for social exclusion may exert biological effects that are similar to traumatic life experiences.
Authors: Nienke M Bosch; Harriëtte Riese; Sijmen A Reijneveld; Martin P Bakker; Frank C Verhulst; Johan Ormel; Albertine J Oldehinkel Journal: Psychoneuroendocrinology Date: 2012-02-24 Impact factor: 4.905
Authors: Mark L Hatzenbuehler; Katie A McLaughlin; Katherine M Keyes; Deborah S Hasin Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2010-01-14 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Vickie M Mays; Robert-Paul Juster; Timothy J Williamson; Teresa E Seeman; Susan D Cochran Journal: Psychosom Med Date: 2018 Jul/Aug Impact factor: 4.312
Authors: Robert-Paul Juster; David Matthew Doyle; Mark L Hatzenbuehler; Bethany G Everett; L Zachary DuBois; Jennifer J McGrath Journal: Stress Date: 2019-03-05 Impact factor: 3.493
Authors: Annesa Flentje; Kord M Kober; Adam W Carrico; Torsten B Neilands; Elena Flowers; Nicholas C Heck; Bradley E Aouizerat Journal: Brain Behav Immun Date: 2018-03-13 Impact factor: 7.217
Authors: Samuel R Friedman; Barbara Tempalski; Joanne E Brady; Brooke S West; Enrique R Pouget; Leslie D Williams; Don C Des Jarlais; Hannah L F Cooper Journal: Int J Drug Policy Date: 2016-03-11