160 Biopsychosocial Well-being and Identity: Variation in the Experience of Allostatic Load and Depression by Identity Status Using NHANES 2017-2020 Data

Abstract

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Chronic stress has vast implications for health. Pathophysiological dysregulation, as evidenced by allostatic load, is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Health disparities exist in both the incidence and outcomes of chronic stress. This study investigates the intersection of identity, allostatic load, and depression. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: A nationally representative sample of pre-pandemic health data from the 2017-2020 cycle of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) was used to assess variation in depression and allostatic load by identity status. Datasets containing biomarker, mental health, and identity data were merged using Stata. An index of allostatic load was created by generating quartiles for nine biomarkers of cardiovascular (cholesterol, triglycerides, systolic and diastolic blood pressure), metabolic (glucose, body mass index, albumin, creatinine), and immune (c-reactive protein) functioning, and summing the total high risk biomarkers per person. Depression scores were averaged across nine items from the patient health questionnaire, and dichotomous identity variables (e.g., race) were generated. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: People identifying as female (t = 8.25, p < .001) or Black (t = 7.18, p < .001) have higher allostatic load scores, whereas people identifying as White (t = -2.64, p < .01) or Asian (t = -3.80, p < .001) have lower allostatic load scores. People identifying as female (t = 10.76, p < .001), White (t = 2.66, p < .01), or Another/Mixed race (t = 6.23, p < .001) have higher levels of depression, whereas people identifying as Asian (t = 9.17, p < .001) have lower levels of depression. Multiple regression analyses indicate a significant effect of depression on allostatic load when controlling for sociodemographic variables (B = 0.33, SE = 0.05, t = 7.02, p < .001). The identity*depression interaction increases allostatic load for females (B = 0.43, SE = 0.10, t = 4.21, p < .001) and racial/ethnic minority males (B = 0.25, SE = 0.10, t = 2.62, p < .01). DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: This study highlights differences in the experience of allostatic load and depression based on identity. Depression exerts an independent and moderating effect on allostatic load. Findings have implications for health disparity research, and highlight the dynamic intersection of identity, mental, and physical health in the face of chronic stress.