Nativity and allostatic load among non-hispanic blacks

Objective: Black immigrants, unlike immigrants of other race/ethnic groups, encounter different post-migration experiences that impact health. Generally, immigrants have a health advantage over the U.S.-born. However, whether this applies to Black immigrants is understudied. Extant literature documents that immigrants' exposure to adverse conditions while adapting to a new socio-cultural environment creates over exposure to stress, which leads to dysregulation of physiological systems that protect individuals from disease. Continued unresolved stress can take its toll on the body by increasing allostatic load (AL) leading to a health decline over time. This study examines whether nativity-based differences in AL exist among Black individuals.

Methods: Pooled data from the 2001-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) is used to compare AL scores for U.S.-born (N=2,745) and foreign-born Black (N=152) adults. Multinomial logistic regression techniques assessed the association between high and low AL scores with sex, age, health behaviors and socioeconomic status.

Results: Foreign-born Blacks [OR= 0.64, CI= (0.484, 0.843)] were less likely to have a high AL score compared to U.S.-born Blacks. As age increased, the likelihood of having a high AL score increased. Widowed, divorced, or separated individuals were more likely to have a high AL score compared to those who were married or living with a partner [OR=1.318, CI= (1.1, 1.579)].

Conclusions: A health advantage in AL was observed among Black individuals. This study highlights the need for further research. A deeper understanding of the mechanisms driving this health differential is needed in order to create programs targeting this population.