TY - JOUR
T1 - Racial and socioeconomic disparities in body mass index among college students
T2 - understanding the role of early life adversity
AU - Curtis, David S.
AU - Fuller-Rowell, Thomas E.
AU - Doan, Stacey N.
AU - Zgierska, Aleksandra E.
AU - Ryff, Carol D.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2016, Springer Science+Business Media New York.
PY - 2016/10/1
Y1 - 2016/10/1
N2 - The role of early life adversity (ELA) in the development of health disparities has not received adequate attention. The current study examined differential exposure and differential vulnerability to ELA as explanations for socioeconomic and racial disparities in body mass index (BMI). Data were derived from a sample of 150 college students (Mage = 18.8, SD = 1.0; 45 % African American; 55 % European American) who reported on parents’ education and income as well as on exposure to 21 early adverse experiences. Body measurements were directly assessed to determine BMI. In adjusted models, African American students had higher BMI than European Americans. Similarly, background socioeconomic status was inversely associated with BMI. Significant mediation of group disparities through the pathway of ELA was detected, attenuating disparities by approximately 40 %. Furthermore, ELA was more strongly associated with BMI for African Americans than for European Americans. Efforts to achieve health equity may need to more fully consider early adversity.
AB - The role of early life adversity (ELA) in the development of health disparities has not received adequate attention. The current study examined differential exposure and differential vulnerability to ELA as explanations for socioeconomic and racial disparities in body mass index (BMI). Data were derived from a sample of 150 college students (Mage = 18.8, SD = 1.0; 45 % African American; 55 % European American) who reported on parents’ education and income as well as on exposure to 21 early adverse experiences. Body measurements were directly assessed to determine BMI. In adjusted models, African American students had higher BMI than European Americans. Similarly, background socioeconomic status was inversely associated with BMI. Significant mediation of group disparities through the pathway of ELA was detected, attenuating disparities by approximately 40 %. Furthermore, ELA was more strongly associated with BMI for African Americans than for European Americans. Efforts to achieve health equity may need to more fully consider early adversity.
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U2 - 10.1007/s10865-016-9756-4
DO - 10.1007/s10865-016-9756-4
M3 - Article
C2 - 27289458
AN - SCOPUS:84986268666
SN - 0160-7715
VL - 39
SP - 866
EP - 875
JO - Journal of Behavioral Medicine
JF - Journal of Behavioral Medicine
IS - 5
ER -