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Social disadvantage and adolescent stress
Elizabeth Goodman1, Bruce S McEwen, Lawrence M Dolan
1Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts 02453-9110, USA. goodman@brandeis.edu
Summary
Social disadvantage, defined by race or socioeconomic status (SES), increases adolescent stress. These factors act as markers for adversity, not direct causes of stress-related health disparities.
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Public Health
- Psychology
Background:
- Low socioeconomic status (SES) and minority race/ethnicity are linked to chronic stress and health disparities.
- These factors are often conflated, hindering a clear understanding of their roles in stress development.
- A theoretical framework is needed to conceptualize social disadvantage and its impact on adolescent stress.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how social disadvantage, encompassing both race/ethnicity and SES, influences stress levels in adolescents.
- To examine the independent and combined effects of race/ethnicity and SES on adolescent stress.
- To determine if race and SES are risk factors or risk markers for stress-related health outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional, school-based study involving 1209 Black and White 7th-12th graders.
- Data collected via student questionnaires and parental SES information; race/ethnicity from school records.
- Linear regression analyses and subgroup analyses were used to assess the influence of race/ethnicity and SES on stress.
Main Results:
- Higher stress levels were observed in Black students, those from lower SES families, and those with lower perceived SES.
- In socially disadvantaged groups, neither race nor SES independently predicted stress.
- Among socially advantaged groups, both SES and race explained variations in adolescent stress.
Conclusions:
- Social disadvantage, irrespective of definition (race or SES), is linked to increased adolescent stress.
- Race and SES function as risk markers for adversity in the social environment, rather than direct risk factors.
- Future research should explore the experience of adversity and its underlying mechanisms.
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