Citation

Clark R, Benkert RA, Flack JM. J. Adolesc. Health 2006; 39(4): 562-569.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jadohealth.2006.02.012

PMID

16982392

Abstract

BACKGROUND: This exploratory study examined the relationship of gender and racism-related vigilance to baseline and task-induced changes in large arterial elasticity (LAE). METHODS: The convenience sample consisted of 153 black youth (M age = 11.5 years, SD = 1.4) who were normotensive. Large arterial elasticity was measured via pulse wave contour analysis, before, during, and after a sequentially administered digit forward and digit backward task. Racism-related vigilance was reported by participants. RESULTS: Although findings from general linear models indicated that the independent effects of gender and racism-related vigilance were not significantly related to LAE (baseline, reactivity, or recovery) (all p > .05), these analyses showed that gender and racism-related vigilance interacted to predict baseline LAE (p < .02) and task-induced changes (reactivity only) in LAE (p < .006). Follow-up regression analyses explicating the pattern of these interaction effects indicated that 1) racism-related vigilance was marginally and inversely related to baseline LAE among boys (p < .06) but not in girls (p > .21); and, 2) racism-related vigilance was positively and significantly associated with task-induced changes (reactivity) in LAE among boys (p < .008) but not in girls (p > .30). CONCLUSIONS: The relationship between racism-related vigilance and LAE varies as a function of gender, and may have longer-term implications for between and within-group disparities in cardiovascular health.

Language: en