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Objective: The objective of this study was to examine whether experiences of discrimination have increased during the pandemic, particularly among negatively stigmatized racial/ethnic groups, and whether such experiences have exacerbated feelings of social isolation. Method: Discrimination and social isolation were assessed before and during the pandemic in a sample of 263 Black and White young adults attending a large, predominantly White 4-year research university in the Southeastern region of the United States (52% Black, 48% White, 53% female, mean age = 19.2). Results: Increases in discrimination were evident among Black but not White participants. Black participants also reported greater increases in social isolation than White participants, and changes in discrimination partially mediated the emergent racial disparity in social isolation. Conclusions: Findings are consistent with theoretical perspectives on discrimination during times of stress and suggest the need for broader attention to the impact of the pandemic on unfair treatment of stigmatized groups. Public Significance Statement: The results of this study suggest notable shifts in experiences of discrimination and social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, the findings indicate that Black young adults experienced increases in discrimination, which exacerbated Black–White racial disparities in social isolation. Determining the degree to which the reported changes are enduring, evident in other demographic groups, and of longer term developmental and public health significance will be important next steps to inform a continuing pandemic response, and responses to future societal-level stressful events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nighttime BP and BP dipping (daytime-nighttime BP) are prognostic for cardiovascular disease. Compared with other racial/ethnic groups, Black Americans exhibit elevated nighttime BP and attenuated BP dipping. Neighborhood deprivation may contribute to disparities in cardiovascular health, but its effects on resting and ambulatory BP patterns in young adults is unclear. Therefore, we examined associations between neighborhood deprivation with resting and nighttime BP and BP dipping in young Black and White adults., Methods: We recruited 19 Black and 28 White participants (23 M/24 F, 21±1 years, body mass index: 26±4 kg/m 2 ) for 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring. We assessed resting BP, nighttime BP, and BP dipping (absolute dip and nighttime:daytime BP ratio). We used the area deprivation index (ADI) to assess average neighborhood deprivation during early- and mid-childhood, and adolescence., Results: Compared with White participants, Black participants exhibited higher resting systolic and diastolic BP ( ps ≤0.029), nighttime systolic BP (114±9 vs. 108±9 mmHg, p =0.049), diastolic BP (63±8 vs. 57±7 mmHg, p =0.010), and attenuated absolute systolic BP dipping (12±5 vs. 9±7 mmHg, p =0.050). Black participants experienced greater average ADI scores compared with White participants (110(10) vs. 97(22), p =0.002), and select ADI scores correlated with resting BP and some ambulatory BP measures. Within each race, select ADI scores correlated with some BP measures for Black participants, but there were no ADI and BP correlations for White participants., Conclusions: Our findings suggest neighborhood deprivation may contribute to higher resting BP and impaired ambulatory BP patterns in young adults warranting further investigation in larger cohorts.