Subjective social status and stress responsivity in late adolescence

Stress. 2020 Jan;23(1):50-59. doi: 10.1080/10253890.2019.1626369. Epub 2019 Jun 17.

Abstract

Subjective social status (SSS) reflects one's perception of one's standing within society. SSS has been linked with health outcomes, over and above socioeconomic status, and is thought to influence health in part by shaping stress responsivity. To test this, the present study examined the links between SSS and psychological, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and cardiovascular responsivity in a sample of 87 ethnically diverse late adolescents (Mage = 18.39 years). Participants rated their family's SSS while either in high school (n = 50) or 1 year afterward (n = 37). Participants completed the Trier Social Stress Task (TSST) and reported their fear during baseline and after task completion, provided six saliva samples throughout the task, and had their heart rate monitored continuously throughout the task. Multilevel models, with time points nested within participants, were conducted to assess reactivity and recovery for each outcome. Results indicated that lower SSS was associated with greater fear reactivity and faster rates of HPA axis reactivity and recovery to baseline. Regarding cardiovascular responses, no differences were observed with respect to heart rate. Lower SSS predicted increased respiratory sinus arrhythmia during the stress task only among participants who rated their SSS while in high school; no association was observed for those who rated SSS after high school. Results suggest that perceptions of one's family's standing in society can shape responses to stress and potentially broader health.HighlightsSubjective social status (SSS) was linked with differences in stress responsivity. Specifically, lower SSS was associated with greater increases in fear following an acute stressor and faster rates of cortisol reactivity and recovery. Adolescents with lower SSS in high school showed less cardiovascular reactivity and recovery with respect to respiratory sinus arrhythmia, a marker of parasympathetic nervous system activity.

Keywords: Subjective social status; adolescents; cortisol; physiology; respiratory sinus arrhythmia; stress.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Female
  • Heart Rate / physiology
  • Humans
  • Hydrocortisone / metabolism
  • Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / physiopathology*
  • Male
  • Parasympathetic Nervous System
  • Pituitary-Adrenal System / physiopathology*
  • Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia
  • Saliva / metabolism
  • Social Class
  • Stress, Psychological / physiopathology*
  • Stress, Psychological / psychology*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Hydrocortisone