Journal article
The Impact of Stress on the Life History Strategies of African American Adolescents: Cognitions, Genetic Moderation, and the Role of Discrimination
Developmental psychology, Vol.48(3), pp.722-739
05/2012
DOI: 10.1037/a0026599
PMCID: PMC4324554
PMID: 22251000
Abstract
The impact of three different sources of stress—environmental, familial (e.g., low parental investment), and interpersonal (i.e., racial discrimination)—on the life history strategies (LHS) and associated cognitions of African American adolescents were examined over an 11-year period (five waves, from age 10.5 to 21.5). Analyses indicated that each one of the sources of stress was associated with faster LHS cognitions (e.g., tolerance of deviance, willingness to engage in risky sex), which, in turn, predicted faster LHS behaviors (e.g., frequent sexual behavior). LHS then negatively predicted outcome (resilience) at age 21.5; i.e., faster LHS → less resilience. In addition, presence of the risk (“sensitivity”) alleles of two monoamine-regulating genes, the serotonin transporter gene (5HTTLPR) and the dopamine D4 receptor gene (DRD4) moderated the impact of perceived racial discrimination on LHS cognitions: Participants with more risk alleles (higher “sensitivity”) reported: faster LHS cognitions at age 18 and less resilience at age 21, if they had experienced higher amounts of discrimination ; and slower LHS and more resilience if they had experienced smaller amounts of discrimination. Implications for LHS theories are discussed.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- The Impact of Stress on the Life History Strategies of African American Adolescents: Cognitions, Genetic Moderation, and the Role of Discrimination
- Creators
- Frederick X Gibbons - University of IowaMegan E Roberts - University of IowaMeg Gerrard - University of IowaZhigang Li - University of IowaSteven R. H Beach - University of IowaRonald L Simons - University of IowaChih-Yuan Weng - University of IowaRobert A Philibert - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Developmental psychology, Vol.48(3), pp.722-739
- DOI
- 10.1037/a0026599
- PMID
- 22251000
- PMCID
- PMC4324554
- NLM abbreviation
- Dev Psychol
- ISSN
- 0012-1649
- eISSN
- 1939-0599
- Grant note
- DOI: 10.13039/100000026, name: National Institute on Drug Abuse, award: DA018871, DA021898; DOI: 10.13039/100000025, name: National Institute of Mental Health, award: MH062668
- Comment
- Test development: Parental Investment Scales
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 05/2012
- Academic Unit
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering; Psychiatry; Iowa Neuroscience Institute
- Record Identifier
- 9984003485802771
Metrics
26 Record Views