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Salivary Biomarkers Help Explore Discrimination and Inflammation in Adolescents
Crichlow, QJ. et al., (2026) Psychoneuroendocrinology
Summary Highlight: This study investigated how daily experiences of racial discrimination relate to inflammation in Black and Hispanic adolescents. Using daily diaries and salivary biomarkers, including C-reactive protein (CRP) and cytokines, researchers found that discrimination was associated with same-day changes in inflammation, suggesting that these experiences may have immediate biological effects. The findings contribute to our understanding of how social stressors can influence health during adolescence and may play a role in long-term health disparities.
Abstract: Discrimination has been identified as a potential contributor to health disparities, partly through its role in promoting inflammation, a key biological mechanism in the development of chronic disease. While most research has focused on adults, adolescents also experience racial discrimination, which has been linked to inflammation and later health risks. The present study examined the same-day and next-day relationships between daily racial discrimination and inflammation (i.e., salivary C-Reactive Protein (CRP) and cytokines) in Black and Hispanic adolescents. The sample included 92 adolescents (mean age = 13.07 years; 53.3% female). Participants reported daily discrimination across four days and provided morning and afternoon saliva samples for the measurement of CRP and cytokines (interleukin-6, interleukin-1 beta, and interleukin-8). Multilevel modeling was used to assess whether daily discrimination predicted same-day and next-day levels of inflammation. Results showed that daily discrimination predicted same-day decreases in CRP but was not a predictor of same-day cytokine levels. Additionally, daily discrimination did not predict next-day levels of CRP and was only marginally associated with next-day cytokines. The results suggest that discrimination contributes to daily fluctuations in inflammation levels. Future research should explore the role of protective factors and the long-term consequences of discrimination on adolescent health, which could inform interventions aimed at reducing racial health disparities.
Keywords: Discrimination, Inflammation, CRP, Cytokines, Early adolescents
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