Interactive Relations Across Dimensions of Interpersonal-Level Discrimination and Depressive Symptoms to Carotid Intimal-Medial Thickening in African Americans

Abstract

Among African Americans, those reporting high levels of discrimination and depressive symptoms have increased carotid atherosclerosis and may be at greater risk for clinical end points compared with those reporting one or neither of these risk factors. Findings suggest that assessment of interactive relationships among social and psychological factors may elucidate novel pathways for cardiovascular disease, including stroke, among African Americans.