Biological Mechanisms in the Link Between Stress and Emerging Adult Mental Health

The main goal of this project is to examine biological mechanisms underlying the link between risky environment factors and psychopathology among emerging adults from low-income backgrounds. This project is relevant to the major NIH goals as it focuses on how daily stressful experiences shape both physical and mental health. During a laboratory visit during Week 1, participants will complete a series of questionnaires assessing ecological risk (e.g., neighborhood violence, economic strain), daily stress, discrimination and racism. In addition, the participants will engage in a stress test with multiple saliva samples collected (before and after the task) for the assessment of the stress hormone cortisol. In Week 2, participants will complete daily online surveys assessing daily stress and discrimination using a smart phone app. During Week 2, the emerging adults also will provide and mail in saliva samples (to assess cortisol) twice a day on three days. In Week 3, the participants will return to the laboratory for blood spot collections for the assessment of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6). During a three-month follow-up, the emerging adults will complete questionnaires in the laboratory to assess depressive and anxiety symptoms. Collecting these data using a sample of emerging adults from low-income families will provide (a) preliminary data for an eventual NIH grant submission and (b) important information that can aid in the development of intervention and community outreach programs focused on physical and mental health factors which cost Oklahoma millions of dollars in terms of programs and lost productivity.