Premium
Defensive coping, urbanization, and neuroendocrine function in B lack A fricans: The THUSA study
Author(s) -
Malan Leoné,
Hamer Mark,
Reimann Manja,
Huisman Hugo,
Van Rooyen Johannes,
Schutte Alta,
Schutte Rudolph,
Potgieter Johan,
Wissing Marié,
Steyn Faans,
Seedat Yaackob,
Malan Nico
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
psychophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.661
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1469-8986
pISSN - 0048-5772
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8986.2012.01362.x
Subject(s) - psychology , urbanization , coping (psychology) , hormone , endocrinology , medicine , clinical psychology , biology , ecology
Dissociation between β‐adrenergic behavioral and physiological defensive active coping ( AC ) responses was associated with cardiometabolic risk in urban but not rural A frican males. Whether this is partly driven by underlying neuroendocrine dysfunction is not certain. We aimed to assess the association between coping style, urbanization, and neuroendocrine function. Blood pressure ( BP ) and serum stress hormones were assessed across levels of urbanization (rural vs. urban) and coping style (active vs. passive) in 178 B lack A frican men. Urban men demonstrated increased hypertension prevalence, α‐adrenergic hemodynamic pattern, lower testosterone levels, and a larger cortisol:testosterone ratio ( C ort: T est) compared to their rural counterparts. This was particularly evident in urban AC men where cortisol and C ort: T est explained 36–40% of the variance in BP . Dissociation between behavioral and physiological β‐adrenergic neuroendocrine responses in urban AC African men was shown. A stressful urban environment might induce an apparent loss of physiological control, thereby facilitating disturbed neuroendocrine AC responses, which could increase cardiovascular disease risk.