Examining the physical toll of marginalizing experiences in emerging adulthood and exploring resilience possibilities

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PROJECT SUMMARY Scholars have called for greater attention to the etiologic role of social identity-related stressors in the creation and maintenance of health disparities. In this domain, a focus on emerging and early adulthood is warranted given that identity-related concerns peak during this developmental period. Among underrepresented college students attending elite predominantly white institutions, the confluence of heightened needs for identity supports and influx of marginalizing experiences may yield the perfect storm of stressors, resulting in negative health consequences, particularly among underrepresented students who persist in the face of adverse exposures. The proposed research aims to document 1) the role of specific identity-related stressors in undermining the health of vulnerable groups as they pursue educational and career advancement and 2) the role of social supports and resources in mitigating potential harm resulting from marginalizing experiences. The proposed research will be conducted with a sample of 340 early adults who previously participated in a five-wave longitudinal study across four years (96% retention rate). All participants were recruited during their first year of college at an elite predominantly white institution and were eligible to participate if they were a member of an underrepresented racial/ethnic group, a first generation college student, or received the full amount of the Federal Pell Grant (i.e., demonstrated substantial financial need). In the proposed research, established indicators of physical health and epigenetic aging will be collected from this sample of young adults (ages 25-30) to assess how their previous and concurrent experiences of marginalization (i.e., risk) and support (i.e., protection) may “get under the skin.” Biomarker measurements will be utilized in order to identify health risk prior to disease onset. During early adulthood, most chronic diseases are still asymptomatic and have not yet been detected via routine health screens. Thus, the period of early adulthood allows for identification of prognostic indicators of future disease. Notably, the proposed research aligns well with the scientific vision of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities in that it aims to help explain disparities in disease by illuminating physiologic processes resulting from social inequities. Additionally, the proposed research seeks to identify mechanisms of resilience with attention to nuance across outcomes being studied (e.g., “skin-deep resilience”). A more comprehensive understanding of risk and resilience processes and variability in how they play out among marginalized groups can inform interventions to facilitate social mobility while also preserving and bolstering the health of minority groups. Given that the emerging and early adulthood years hold great consequence for the life course, interventions targeting this developmental period hold tremendous potential for reducing health disparities, particularly health disparities that may be exacerbated counterintuitively by social mobility.