The Effects of Social Ties on Latinx Health Outcomes

Trey Andrews is receiving a NIH grant, focused on health disparities for Hispanic populations. He is pictured with Tierney Lorenz (research collaborator) and Sara Reyes (project manager). They are photographed in the teaching lab of the Lincoln division of the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s nursing program. April 20, 2022. Photo by Craig Chandler / University Communication.

Chronic stress caused by social discrimination can negatively impact the health of marginalized communities. However, the social ties within a community can help reduce the impact of stress and reduce inflammatory biomarkers associated with negative health outcomes. Researchers from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln have received NIH funding to examine the interaction of discrimination stress, social ties, and health outcomes in Latinx and Hispanic communities.

According to Tiffany Lee of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, “The team will first determine how exposure to discrimination affects a person’s allostatic load, or the bodily wear and tear from stress. Allostatic load likely underlies the Weathering Hypothesis, which suggests that exposure to social and economic disadvantage, including interpersonal discrimination, accelerates poor health outcomes across a wide range of conditions.”

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(Source: Nebraska Today, May 23^rd, 2022)