Although cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death among men and women over the age of 65 in the United States, men account for more than half of the deaths due to CVD. Moreover, CVD disparities exist among men, such that those who identify as sexual minorities are more likely to experience poor cardiovascular health as compared to heterosexuals. Much research documents the deleterious effects of discrimination among sexual minorities, including dysregulated cortisol rhythms, elevated C-reactive protein, and heightened blood pressure. These are important biological outcomes that influence vascular inflammation, atherosclerosis, stroke, and other cardiovascular risk factors. In addition, there are health behaviors that are along the posited causal pathway between discrimination and CVD risk including substance use, sleep, and physical activity that are important mechanisms to study and understand. Nevertheless, the mechanisms linking discrimination and intermediate cardiovascular factors among racially diverse young sexual minority men (YSMM) remain under-explored.

The objective of this study is to examine physiological and behavioral mechanisms linking self-reported discrimination to C-reactive protein, a biomarker of inflammation, in a racially diverse group of YSMM aged 18-35. The long-term objective of this research is to inform the creation of culturally relevant interventions to reduce the risk of CVD among YSMM.