When belongingness backfires: experienced discrimination predicts increased cardiometabolic risk among college students high in social belonging

Research implicates experiences of discrimination in exacerbating cardiometabolic disease (CMD) risk. Belongingness has been suggested as a buffer against the adverse effects discrimination. However, when occurs an environment to which one feels they belong, then potential benefits belongingness may dissipate or even exacerbate In present study, we examined these competing hypotheses on how campus belonging might moderate relationship between experienced and CMD College students (n = 160, 60.9% Latino/a/x) reported frequency on-campus belongingness, completed items assessing risk for CMD. More frequent related higher comparative among those who high after adjusting relevant covariates. These findings highlight complicated nature context physical health. Future research is needed better understand role considering morbidity college students.