Sociodemographic Correlates of Allostatic Load and Longitudinal Patterns of Obesity among Adolescents in the United States: A Mediating Model of Stressful Life Events

摘要: The period of adolescence is a transitional developmental stage, critical in shaping health trajectories across the life course. While many individuals traverse adolescent transition relatively unscathed, number suffer from significant problems to adulthood. Recent studies have begun investigate biological mechanism through which social conditions early course influence trajectories. Previous research on allostatic load, an indicator physiological dysregulation resulting wear and tear stress, has focused adults aging, but few explored load among adolescents. Additionally, recent literature explore mechanisms during lead changing obesity patterns adulthood, though none considered mediating stressful events.Using data two nationally representative samples adolescents age 12 19 years, National Health Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) (N = 8,431) Longitudinal Study Adolescent (Add Health) 9,311), overarching goals this study were (1) sociodemographic correlates AL (2) determine whether events (SLE) explain relationship between factors longitudinal young for dissertation drew upon course, stratification, stress process theories. Specific differences by race/ethnicity found. In particular, higher scores, suggestive greater cumulative dysregulation, significantly associated with older Black race/ethnicity. Select pathways SLE becoming obese males also Mediation analysis revealed that done partially explained low family income over time. Surprisingly, no effects found females. This provided first examination associations major sample concept offers great promise toward expanding our understanding how environmental are embodied within regulatory systems, translated into disease outcomes disparities. present implications informing prevention interventions younger populations. focusing intervening may affect obesity, contributes processes development childhood adolescence. These findings point possible can prevent who SES households. Recommendations regarding management coping could aid fight against increasing epidemic population.