Father support is protective against the negative effects of perceived discrimination on CRP among sexual minorities but not heterosexuals

Erica P Wood; Stephanie H Cook

doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.06.019

Father support is protective against the negative effects of perceived discrimination on CRP among sexual minorities but not heterosexuals

Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2019 Dec:110:104368. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.06.019. Epub 2019 Jul 16.

Authors

Erica P Wood¹, Stephanie H Cook²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biostatistics, College of Global Public Health, New York University, New York University, United States; Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, College of Global Public Health, New York University, United States.
² Department of Biostatistics, College of Global Public Health, New York University, New York University, United States; Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, College of Global Public Health, New York University, United States. Electronic address: sc5810@nyu.edu.

PMID: 31539836
DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.06.019

Abstract

Background: Exposure to sexual orientation-related discrimination among sexual minorities may lead to elevated levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) as compared to their heterosexual counterparts. However, little is known about factors that may buffer the association between discrimination and CRP among sexual minorities versus heterosexuals. The current study examined if the association between discrimination, sexual orientation, and CRP differed across levels of social support from one's father/father-figure or mother/mother-figure between sexual minorities and heterosexuals.

Methods: Data came from Wave IV of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health). The sample sizes for father support and mother support was 3167 and 3575, respectively. Participants ranged in age from 24 to 33 years. Stratified linear regression models examined if father and mother support moderated the association between discrimination and CRP among sexual minorities and heterosexuals.

Results: Father support significantly moderated the association between discrimination and CRP among sexual minorities but not heterosexuals. Sexual minorities with higher father support and who experienced discrimination had lower CRP as compared to those with lower father support and who experienced discrimination. Mother support did not moderate the association between discrimination and CRP among either sexual minorities or heterosexuals.

Conclusion: Father support may mitigate the negative effects of stress from discrimination on CRP among sexual minorities. Future research should further examine the potential differential role that father support may play in reducing cardiovascular risk among sexual minorities versus heterosexuals who experience discrimination.

Keywords: C-reactive protein; Cardiovascular risk; Discrimination; Father support; Sexual orientation.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
C-Reactive Protein / analysis
C-Reactive Protein / metabolism*
Cardiovascular Diseases / blood
Cardiovascular Diseases / epidemiology
Cardiovascular Diseases / etiology
Child
Father-Child Relations*
Fathers / psychology
Fathers / statistics & numerical data
Female
Heterosexuality* / physiology
Heterosexuality* / psychology
Heterosexuality* / statistics & numerical data
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Mothers / psychology
Mothers / statistics & numerical data
Perception / physiology*
Psychology, Adolescent
Psychosocial Support Systems
Risk Factors
Sexual Behavior
Sexual and Gender Minorities* / psychology
Sexual and Gender Minorities* / statistics & numerical data
Social Discrimination / psychology*
Social Discrimination / statistics & numerical data
Young Adult

Substances

C-Reactive Protein