Transgenerational effect of mothers' experiences of discrimination on black youths' hormone coupling in response to laboratory stress

This study investigated the impact of transgenerational racial stress on youths' adrenal-and-gonadal hormone levels and co-regulation in response to acute stress. Black youths (N=120) residing in a U.S. metropolitan area completed the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). Youths' cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone, and testosterone coupling levels were examined. Hormonal response to the TSST was influenced by their mothers' experiences of racial discrimination. Mothers' experiences predicted stronger positive cortisol-testosterone coupling. For high testosterone youths whose mothers' experienced high discrimination, cortisol recovery was blunted after the stressor. Results suggest that mothers' experiences of discrimination are transgenerational and impact their children's hormonal co-regulation.