In this episode we speak with Dr. Stephanie Cook, Associate Professor and Director of the Attachment and Health Disparities Research Lab, about the science behind minority stress and resilience. She explains how stress manifests biologically through cortisol regulation, why chronic exposure to social discrimination dysregulates the body’s stress response, and how public health research is using biomarkers like saliva and hair samples to measure these effects. Dr. Cook also highlights the power of close relationships in buffering stress, discusses her ongoing 30-day stress tracking study, and reveals how policymakers can use physiological data to drive systemic change.

Connect with Dr. Stephanie Cook: https://publichealth.nyu.edu/faculty/stephanie-cook

To learn more about the NYU School of Global Public Health, and how our innovative programs are training the next generation of public health leaders, visit http://www.publichealth.nyu.edu.