Additive, Common, and Cumulative Contributions of Stress on Diurnal Cortisol Activity: Evidence Among Latino College Students

Abstract

The transition to college is a major socio-contextual shift marked by opportunity and stress. Adolescents who encounter significant stress during this time may experience changes in neuroendocrine function, an identified mechanism underlying associations between stress and psychopathology. Latino students may be particularly at-risk for stress exposure, as ethnic/racial minority youth experience both minority-specific and general life stressors. This study employed a “multi-risk model” to examine additive, common, and cumulative effects of various stressors on Latino college students’ diurnal cortisol. 180 Latino college students (Mage=18.95; 64.4% female) provided five saliva samples a day across three weekdays (M=14.88, SD=.95; 2,667 samples) to assess diurnal cortisol patterns (i.e., cortisol awakening response (CAR), diurnal cortisol slope (DCS)). Participants self-reported on multiple stress forms (general, academic, social, financial, bicultural, discrimination) via online survey and daily diary. Common and cumulative stress were assessed via exploratory factor analysis and cumulative risk index, respectively. Three-level growth curve models were fit using Mplus. In the additive model, general stress was associated with a flatter DCS (γ=.01, p=.03) and bicultural stress was linked with a steeper DCS (γ=-.07, p=.047). In the common model, college stress was related to a lower CAR (γ=-.09, p=.045). Higher cumulative stress was linked with a lower CAR (γ=-.06, p=.007). Findings highlight the physiological correlates of various stressors experienced by Latino college students. Results have implications for equity promoting interventions to reduce stress and subsequent physiological processes underlying the development of psychopathology.