Author ORCID Identifier
0000-0003-0390-4438
Defense Date
2024
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Cecelia Valrie, PhD
Abstract
Black youth are at an increased risk for poor short and long-term cardiometabolic health, including obesity, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes. Racial discrimination and poor sleep are theorized as key factors contributing to cardiometabolic health. While adult studies support sleep as a pathway through which discrimination is associated with health, there is a critical gap in our knowledge of this pathway in youth. Socio-ecological supports may protect Black youth against stressors, including racism. However, studies of the protective nature of these factors in Black youth have primarily focused on psychological and behavioral outcomes. Thus, the current study built upon previous literature by testing (1) sleep as a mediator of the association between racial discrimination and cardiometabolic risk, (2) collective efficacy and school connectedness as moderators of the associations of racial discrimination, sleep, and cardiometabolic risk in a nationally representative sample of Black youth, aged 10-13 years old. PROCESS mediation models revealed that sleep disturbance did not significantly mediate the association of racial discrimination and cardiometabolic risk. Moderated-mediation models demonstrated that while school connectedness was not a significant moderator, collective efficacy significantly moderated the association between racial discrimination and BMI and waist-to-height ratio. Racial discrimination was only significantly associated with BMI and waist-to-height ratio among youth living in communities with low collective efficacy. Results highlight the need for future research and the development of interventions to determine if improving collective efficacy can address the association of racism with health and promote long-term cardiometabolic health for Black youth across the lifespan.
Rights
© The Author
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
5-5-2024