Intersecting identities, inflammation, and sexuality: Effects of race, ethnicity, and education.

Abstract

Objective: This article assesses the intersections among race/ethnicity and sexuality on C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in a national sample of midlife adults. It also explores how race/ethnicity and educational attainment may differentially influence CRP among sexually diverse adults.

Method: This study uses data from 1,401 adults who participated in the 2016 biomarker module of the Health and Retirement Study. Individuals identifying as lesbian, gay, or bisexual (sexually diverse) were compared to those who identified as heterosexual. The associations between race/ethnicity and sexuality on CRP levels were assessed using ordinary least squares regression, with interactions examined between sexuality and race/ethnicity and between sexuality and educational attainment, adjusted for demographic and socioeconomic characteristics and depressive symptoms.

Results: We found that higher educational attainment had greater protective effects for sexually diverse respondents' CRP levels compared to heterosexual respondents. Additionally, sexuality was marginally significant and differentially protective for non-Hispanic Black respondents, suggesting that sexually diverse Black adults experienced lower risk for elevated CRP relative to their peers.

Conclusion: Educational attainment may be a particularly important protective factor against elevated CRP levels for sexually diverse adults. However, differences in CRP among racially/ethnically diverse older adults did not vary by educational attainment. It is possible that greater selectivity in resiliency factors and affirming relationships differentially protect lesbian, gay, or bisexual and non-Hispanic Black adults. Additional research is necessary to investigate these proposed pathways. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).