Discrimination, Racial Bias, and Telomere Length in African-American Men

Background Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is an indicator of general systemic aging, with shorter LTL being associated with several chronic diseases of aging and earlier mortality. Identifying factors related to LTL among African Americans may yield insights into mechanisms underlying racial dispar...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of preventive medicine 2014-02, Vol.46 (2), p.103-111
Main Authors: Chae, David H., ScD, MA, Nuru-Jeter, Amani M., PhD, Adler, Nancy E., PhD, Brody, Gene H., PhD, Lin, Jue, PhD, Blackburn, Elizabeth H., PhD, Epel, Elissa S., PhD
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
African Americans - ethnology
African Americans - genetics
African Americans - psychology
Ageing
Aging - genetics
Aging - physiology
Aging - psychology
Biological and medical sciences
Black American people
Cross-Sectional Studies
Health inequalities
Humans
Internal Medicine
Leukocytes - physiology
Male
Medical sciences
Men
Middle Aged
Miscellaneous
Prevention and actions
Public health. Hygiene
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Racial bias
Racial discrimination
Racism
Telomere Homeostasis - genetics
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Summary:Background Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is an indicator of general systemic aging, with shorter LTL being associated with several chronic diseases of aging and earlier mortality. Identifying factors related to LTL among African Americans may yield insights into mechanisms underlying racial disparities in health. Purpose To test whether the combination of more frequent reports of racial discrimination and holding a greater implicit anti-black racial bias is associated with shorter LTL among African-American men. Methods Cross-sectional study of a community sample of 92 African-American men aged between 30 and 50 years. Participants were recruited from February to May 2010. Ordinary least squares regressions were used to examine LTL in kilobase pairs in relation to racial discrimination and implicit racial bias. Data analysis was completed in July 2013. Results After controlling for chronologic age and socioeconomic and health-related characteristics, the interaction between racial discrimination and implicit racial bias was significantly associated with LTL (b=−0.10, SE=0.04, p =0.02). Those demonstrating a stronger implicit anti-black bias and reporting higher levels of racial discrimination had the shortest LTL. Household income-to-poverty threshold ratio was also associated with LTL (b=0.05, SE=0.02, p
ISSN:0749-3797
1873-2607
DOI:10.1016/j.amepre.2013.10.020