Experiences of Discrimination and Urinary Catecholamine Concentrations: Longitudinal Associations in a College Student Sample

Abstract

Background: Experiences of discrimination are a risk factor for subsequent cardiovascular disease. However, there is a lack of longitudinal research examining associations between discrimination and urinary catecholamines. This is surprising given the likely mediating role of sympathetic nervous system dysregulation in the association between psychosocial stress and cardiovascular morbidity.

Purpose: The current study examined the 3 year longitudinal association between experiences of discrimination and urinary catecholamines.

Methods: The sample included 149 college students (mean age at baseline = 18.8, standard deviation = 0.96; 45% Black/African American; 55% White/European American). Concentrations of epinephrine and norepinephrine-urinary catecholamines with established links to psychosocial stress exposure and subsequent morbidity-were determined from 12 hr overnight samples.

Results: Results indicated that experiences of discrimination were associated with increases in both epinephrine (β = .284, standard error [SE] = .117, p = .015) and norepinephrine (β = .306, SE = .114, p = .001). These longitudinal associations persisted after adjusting for negative affect, depression, and rejection sensitivity and did not vary as a function of race/ethnicity.

Conclusions: Results suggest that examination of overnight urinary catecholamines as a biological mediator of associations between experiences of discrimination and cardiovascular morbidity is warranted.

Keywords: Epinephrine; Norepinephrine; Perceived discrimination; Psychosocial stress; Sympathetic nervous system; Urinary catecholamines.