Measuring Chronic Stress Through Hair Cortisol in a Latinx Community: A Collaborative Study by The Latina Center and Health Equity Research Lab
Yuliana Caravantes Molina
Department of Biology
Faculty Supervisor: Cathy Samayoa
Latinx communities are underrepresented in biomedical research studies, yet disproportionately suffer from chronic health conditions and harmful exposures, including stressors such as racism and discrimination. These chronic stressors may disrupt the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which is associated with cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, and may contribute to health disparities. This study used a community-engaged approach to collect hair samples from Latinx individuals, with approximately 100 strands gathered per participant using kits developed by the Health and Equity Research (HER) Lab. Samples were processed, ground into a powder, and cortisol was extracted through an overnight methanol incubation prior to ELISA analysis. A total of 69 samples were collected, with all but one containing enough hair for analysis. This project examines hair cortisol levels and their relationship to exposures linked to chronic health conditions, helping us better understand how stress contributes to health inequities in Latinx communities.