Distinct stress and coping profiles were associated with differences in cardiometabolic risk, with the 'holding steady' profile showing less insulin resistance than other profiles.
Cross-Sectional (n=110)
Are different stress and coping profiles associated with differences in cardiometabolic risk among low-income African American women?
In low-income African American women, less favorable stress coping profiles are associated with increased insulin resistance and cardiometabolic risk.
Background: The complex interplay of psychological stress appraisal, biology, chronically stressful environments, and individual coping mechanisms can impact and tax physiological adaptive processes. This can result in increased cardiometabolic risk (CMR), type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Underlying mechanisms are not entirely clear and appear to differ significantly based on age, sex, race, and ethnicity. This crosssectional descriptive study explored stress profiles of psychological and behavioral adjustment to determine the extent to which patterns of stressors, coping, and CMR differentiated these profiles. Materials and Methods: African American (AA) women ( N = 110; M age = 38.61 years, SD = 6.94 years) were recruited from low-income communities and participated in two home visits to complete stress and coping and cardiovascular risk measures. Results: Three distinct stress and coping adjustment profiles were associated with differences in CMR. The “holding steady” profile had less insulin resistance (IR) and substance use compared to “high substance users” and “high internalizers” profiles. Women who were “holding steady” used less avoidant coping than “high internalizers.” Conclusions: Less favorable adjustment processes were associated with IR, as well as significantly higher levels of avoidant coping and substance use. In AA women, awareness of and attention to stress and coping patterns may help attenuate CMR.
Robins et al. (Wed,) conducted a cross-sectional in Cardiometabolic risk (n=110). Stress and coping profiles vs. Other stress and coping profiles was evaluated on Cardiometabolic risk and insulin resistance. Distinct stress and coping profiles were associated with differences in cardiometabolic risk, with the 'holding steady' profile showing less insulin resistance than other profiles.