Acesse a sua conta getAbstract para obter o resumo!

Discrimination Causes Nearly Instantaneous Spikes in Stress Hormones

Acesse a sua conta getAbstract para obter o resumo!

Discrimination Causes Nearly Instantaneous Spikes in Stress Hormones

The study of real-time cortisol levels opens the door to understanding how daily life events influence health

Science,

5 min. de leitura
3 Ideias Fundamentais
Áudio & Texto

Sobre o que é?

A recent study indicates that racial acrimony causes psychological and physical health issues.

  • 0.5×
  • 0.75×
  • 1×
  • 1.25×
  • 1.5×
  • 1.75×
1×

Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Analytical
  • Scientific
  • Hot Topic

Recommendation

While it seems common sense that enduring racial slurs and constant discrimination would cause psychological and physical harm to people of color, a new study has directly measured the effects. The Yale University study led by Soohyun Nam, while small, may lead to a better understanding of how daily exposure to such negative encounters harms health — and create awareness of these issues in the general population.

Summary

A new study shows that negative racial encounters can affect the health of people of color.

Over a lifetime, racial prejudice and bigotry can affect a person’s health, bringing on anxiety, depression and psychological stress. Such discrimination can weaken the immune system and increase blood pressure. Even a single racial incident can raise stress biomarkers.

A team at Yale University’s School of Nursing led by Soohyun Nam worked with Black communities and churches in the northeastern United States to examine a dozen people aged between 30 and 55.

The team devised survey questions concerning incidents of microaggression and discrimination. For example, they asked whether the participant had ever been mistaken for a low-level service worker because of his or her skin color.

The experiences were recorded on a phone app known as “ecological...

About the Author

Rodrigo Pérez Ortega is a science journalist covering life sciences, medicine, health and academia.

Comment on this summary