Social Integration, Daily Discrimination, and Biological Markers of Health in Mid- and Later Life: Does Self-Esteem Play an Intermediary Role?

Findings identify social correlates of inflammation and cardiovascular risk and suggest that self-esteem may serve as a pathway for effects. Overall, results were somewhat mixed: Daily discrimination was directly associated with both self-esteem and 3 of the 4 biological markers of health; however, although social integration was strongly associated with self-esteem, it was only weakly and indirectly associated with biological health markers. Moreover, the indirect effects of daily discrimination on the biomarker outcomes-while significant-were notably smaller than its direct effects. Implications for theory, practice, and future research are discussed, including the need for further study of self-esteem and physical health across mid- and later life.