Background: Chinese immigrants experience increased chronic disease risk following migration to the US. Although the impact of lifestyle changes (e.g., diet) on disease risk has been extensively studied, associations of psychosocial stress and disease risk have attracted less attention. Thus, the objective of the present study was to examine associations between stress and insulin resistance in foreign-born Chinese American women. Methods: From October, 2005 to April, 2008, 423 women recruited from southeastern Pennsylvania completed questionnaires reporting stressful life events. Blood samples were analyzed for fasting insulin and fasting glucose levels, which were used to estimate insulin resistance according to the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA<inf>IR</inf>). Results: In logistic regression analyses, a greater number of negative life events were associated with insulin resistance (OR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.02-1.34), controlling for age, level of acculturation, marital status, body mass index, and waist circumference. Similarly, greater negative life event impact ratings were also associated with insulin resistance (OR = 1.08, 95% CI = 1.01-1.16) controlling for relevant covariates. Conclusions: This is one of the first studies to examine the associations between psychosocial stress and insulin resistance in Chinese immigrant women. These findings contribute to a growing body of literature on stress and diabetes risk in an immigrant population. © 2015 The Authors.

Negative life events Insulin resistance Immigrant Stress Asian

blood sampling immigrant insulin resistance Waist Circumference human immigration metabolic parameters homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance life event controlled study mental stress diet restriction marriage United States insulin Asian American female questionnaire high risk population cultural factor life stress Article glucose blood level adult age insulin blood level glucose normal human body mass disease association secondary analysis