Subjective social status predicts inflammatory responses to acute stress only in non-white individuals

Abstract

Background Previous research indicates that ethnic differences in subjective social status (SSS), inflammatory markers, and stress reactivity may exist. However, no studies have examined the relationship between SSS and ethnicity in the context of IL-6 responses to repeated stress. Methods Eighty-five adults (51% female, mean age = 37.9 years) completed the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) on two consecutive days. Blood samples were collected at 1 minute prior and 30 minutes and 2 hours post-TSST for measurement of plasma IL-6. Community and United States SSS were assessed using MacArthur ladders. Results The sample consisted of n = 80 participants (n = 51 white, n = 29 non-white). Both TSSTs induced increases in plasma IL-6 (F = 65.1, p 0.001 ), with higher responses to the second exposure (F = 7.85, p = 0.006). Community SSS was positively associated with IL-6 responses to the first TSST (r = 0.24, p = 0.03) but not the second (r = −0.01, p = 0.9). Whites rated themselves higher than nonwhites in SSS (Community, trend, p = 0.053; US, p = 0.009). Regression analyses revealed a significant SSS by NW interaction predicting IL-6 responses to the first TSST (beta = 0.82, p = 0.046), with higher SSS predicting elevated IL-6 responses only in non-whites. Conclusions Subjective Social Status ratings were sensitive to race and predicted IL-6 responses to the TSST in only non-white individuals. Ethnicity and SSS may play a role in social evaluation, a key component of social stress. More research is needed to determine the nature these associations.