Scientists already know that the stress caused by racial discrimination is related to a host of chronic health conditions, but less is known about which types of discrimination are most harmful. 

To answer that question, researchers at the U-M School of Kinesiology surveyed 100 adolescents aged 13-19, who had obesity or who were overweight, about their experiences with institutional, peer, educational, and cumulative discrimination. They measured their salivary cortisol five times a day over three days, and found that teens who experienced peer discrimination––racial discrimination from other teens––had unhealthy levels of the so-called stress hormone cortisol circulating in their bodies throughout the day. Disruptions in cortisol patterns can lead to unhealthy cortisol levels in the body, which is connected to many chronic health conditions.

Learn more: https://myumi.ch/Qq4xE

Rebecca Hasson on teens discriminating against teens

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Rebecca Hasson on teens discriminating against teens

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