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Zare H, Gilmore DR, Assari S, Molina IB, Delarmente BA, Azadi M, Thorpe RJ. Income Inequality, Gender Disparities, and Ethnic Differences: Investigating Allostatic Load in American Adults. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2024:10.1007/s40615-024-02025-w. [PMID: 38743347 DOI: 10.1007/s40615-024-02025-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
AIM To estimate the association between income inequality and allostatic load score (AL) in adults ages 20 years and older, with a particular focus on the differential impacts across racial and gender groups. By examining this association, the study seeks to inform targeted policy interventions to mitigate health disparities exacerbated by economic inequality. METHODS Utilizing data from the 1999-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), we assessed AL through eight biomarkers: systolic blood pressure (mm Hg), diastolic blood pressure (mm Hg), pulse rate (beats/min), body mass index (kg/m2), glycohemoglobin (%), direct HDL cholesterol (mg/dL), total cholesterol (mg/dL), and serum albumin (g/dL). Employing negative binomial regression (NBRG), we estimated incidence rate ratios (IRR) for a sample comprising 7367 men and 7814 women, adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, marital status, education, health insurance, comorbidity, and mental health professional utilization. Gini coefficients (GC) were calculated to assess income inequality among men and women. RESULTS Findings revealed that men exhibited a higher poverty-to-income ratio (PIR) compared to women (3.12 vs. 2.86, p < 0.01). Yet, women experienced higher rates of elevated AL (AL > 4) (31.8% vs. 29.0%) and were more adversely affected by income inequality (GC: 0.280 vs. 0.333). NBRG results indicated that high PIR individuals had a lower IRR (0.96; CI:0.92-0.95) compared to their low PIR counterparts, a trend observed in women but not men. High PIR was notably protective among White non-Hispanic (WNH) men and women. Additionally, vigorous and moderate physical activity engagement was associated with lower AL (IRR: 0.89, CI: 0.85-0.93). CONCLUSION The study emphasizes the importance of implementing policies that target AL in low-income populations across all racial groups, with a specific focus on Black non-Hispanic (BNH) and Hispanic communities. By prioritizing these groups, policies can more effectively target the nexus of income inequality, health disparities, and allostatic load, contributing to the reduction of health inequities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hossein Zare
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Hampton House 337, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
- The School of Business, University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC), College Park, USA.
| | - Danielle R Gilmore
- Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society Scholar, George Washington University, Washington, D.C., USA
| | - Shervin Assari
- Department of Family Medicine, Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Benjo A Delarmente
- UCLA Value-Based Care Research Consortium, Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Mojgan Azadi
- Montgomery College, Montgomery County, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Roland J Thorpe
- Department of Health, Behavior, and Society Program for Research on Men's Health, Hopkins Center for Health Disparities Solutions, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA
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Steward AT, Zhu Y, De Fries CM, Dunbar AZ, Trujillo M, Hasche L. A phenomenological, intersectional understanding of coping with ageism and racism among older adults. J Aging Stud 2023; 67:101186. [PMID: 38012946 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaging.2023.101186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to understand how older adults cope with experiences of ageism and racism through an intersectional lens. Twenty adults 60+ residing in the U.S. Mountain West who identified as Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), Asian-American/Pacific Islander, Indigenous, or White participated individually in a one-hour, semi-structured interview. A team of five coders engaged in an inductive coding process through independent coding followed by critical discussion. Peer debriefing enhanced credibility. Nine themes were organized by three umbrella categories: Coping with ageism: 1) distancing via self-determination/defying stereotypes, 2) distancing by helping others; Coping with racism: 3) resistance, 4) exhaustion; Coping with both ageism and racism: 5) increased awareness through aging, 6) healthy lifestyle, 7) education, 8) acceptance/ 'let it go', and 9) avoidance. Novel findings include how older adults may cope with ageism and racism via increased awareness through aging and with ageism specifically by helping peer older adults, although instances of internalized ageism were noted and discussed. The themes exemplify problem-focused (e.g., helping others) and emotion-focused (acceptance), as well as individual (e.g., self-determination) and collective (e.g., resistance) coping strategies. This study can serve as a resource for practitioners in applying a more nuanced understanding of the ways older adults cope with ageism and racism in later life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew T Steward
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Helen Bader School of Social Welfare, 2400 E. Hartford Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA.
| | - Yating Zhu
- University of Denver Morgridge College of Education, 1999 E. Evans Ave, Denver, CO 80208, USA.
| | - Carson M De Fries
- University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work, 2148 S. High St, Denver, CO 80208, USA.
| | - Annie Zean Dunbar
- University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work, 2148 S. High St, Denver, CO 80208, USA.
| | - Miguel Trujillo
- University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work, 2148 S. High St, Denver, CO 80208, USA
| | - Leslie Hasche
- University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work, 2148 S. High St, Denver, CO 80208, USA.
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Jacob G, Faber SC, Faber N, Bartlett A, Ouimet AJ, Williams MT. A Systematic Review of Black People Coping With Racism: Approaches, Analysis, and Empowerment. PERSPECTIVES ON PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE 2023; 18:392-415. [PMID: 36006823 PMCID: PMC10018067 DOI: 10.1177/17456916221100509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
This article reviews the current research literature concerning Black people in Western societies to better understand how they regulate their emotions when coping with racism, which coping strategies they use, and which strategies are functional for well-being. A systematic review of the literature was conducted, and 26 studies were identified on the basis of a comprehensive search of multiple databases and reference sections of relevant articles. Studies were quantitative and qualitative, and all articles located were from the United States or Canada. Findings demonstrate that Black people tend to cope with racism through social support (friends, family, support groups), religion (prayer, church, spirituality), avoidance (attempting to avoid stressors), and problem-focused coping (confronting the situation directly). Findings suggest gender differences in coping strategies. We also explore the relationship between coping with physical versus emotional pain and contrast functional versus dysfunctional coping approaches, underscoring the importance of encouraging personal empowerment to promote psychological well-being. Findings may help inform mental-health interventions. Limitations include the high number of American-based samples and exclusion of other Black ethnic and national groups, which is an important area for further exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Amy Bartlett
- Department of Classics and Religious
Studies, University of Ottawa
| | | | - Monnica T. Williams
- School of Psychology, University of
Ottawa
- Monnica T. Williams, School of Psychology,
University of Ottawa
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4
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Intersectional vulnerability in the relationship between discrimination and inflammatory gene expression. Brain Behav Immun Health 2023; 27:100580. [PMID: 36632340 PMCID: PMC9826875 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2022.100580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Addressing social disparities in health and well-being requires understanding how the effects of discrimination become biologically embedded, and how embedding processes might vary across different demographic contexts. Emerging research suggests that a threat-related gene expression response may contribute to social disparities in health. We tested a contextual vulnerability model of discrimination embedding using an empirical intersectionality (interaction discovery) analysis of pro-inflammatory gene expression in a national sample of non-institutionalized, English-speaking adults with RNA biomarker data (n = 543). At the time of data collection, the average age of participants was 55 years (SD = 13.26) and approximately half identified as female (50.46%). Most participants identified as White (∼73%) and had some college experience (∼60%). Results showed significant variation in the strength of association between daily discrimination and inflammatory gene expression by race and sex (b = -0.022; 95% CI:-0.038,-0.005, p = .009) with the estimated marginal association larger for racially-minoritized males (b = 0.007; 95% CI:-0.003,0.017, p = .163), compared to White males (b = -0.006; 95% CI:-0.013,0.001, p = .076). This study indicates that the link between daily discrimination and inflammatory gene expression may vary by sociodemographic characteristics. To improve initiatives and policies aimed at ameliorating disparities within populations, greater attention is needed to understand how interlocking systems of inequalities contribute to physiological health.
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Yang Y, Cho A, Nguyen Q, Nsoesie EO. Association of Neighborhood Racial and Ethnic Composition and Historical Redlining With Built Environment Indicators Derived From Street View Images in the US. JAMA Netw Open 2023; 6:e2251201. [PMID: 36652250 PMCID: PMC9856713 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.51201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Importance Racist policies (such as redlining) create inequities in the built environment, producing racially and ethnically segregated communities, poor housing conditions, unwalkable neighborhoods, and general disadvantage. Studies on built environment disparities are usually limited to measures and data that are available from existing sources or can be manually collected. Objective To use built environment indicators generated from online street-level images to investigate the association among neighborhood racial and ethnic composition, the built environment, and health outcomes across urban areas in the US. Design, Setting, and Participants This cross-sectional study was conducted using built environment indicators derived from 164 million Google Street View images collected from November 1 to 30, 2019. Race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic data were obtained from the 2019 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates; health outcomes were obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2020 Population Level Analysis and Community Estimates (PLACES) data set. Multilevel modeling and mediation analysis were applied. A total of 59 231 urban census tracts in the US were included. The online images and the ACS data included all census tracts. The PLACES data comprised survey respondents 18 years or older. Data were analyzed from May 23 to November 16, 2022. Main Outcomes and Measures Model-estimated association between image-derived built environment indicators and census tract (neighborhood) racial and ethnic composition, and the association of the built environment with neighborhood racial composition and health. Results The racial and ethnic composition in the 59 231 urban census tracts was 1 160 595 (0.4%) American Indian and Alaska Native, 53 321 345 (19.5%) Hispanic, 462 259 (0.2%) Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander, 17 166 370 (6.3%) non-Hispanic Asian, 35 985 480 (13.2%) non-Hispanic Black, and 158 043 260 (57.7%) non-Hispanic White residents. Compared with other neighborhoods, predominantly White neighborhoods had fewer dilapidated buildings and more green space indicators, usually associated with good health, and fewer crosswalks (eg, neighborhoods with predominantly minoritized racial or ethnic groups other than Black residents had 6% more dilapidated buildings than neighborhoods with predominantly White residents). Moreover, the built environment indicators partially mediated the association between neighborhood racial and ethnic composition and health outcomes, including diabetes, asthma, and sleeping problems. The most significant mediator was non-single family homes (a measure associated with homeownership), which mediated the association between neighborhoods with predominantly minority racial or ethnic groups other than Black residents and sleeping problems by 12.8% and the association between unclassified neighborhoods and asthma by 24.2%. Conclusions and Relevance The findings in this cross-sectional study suggest that large geographically representative data sets, if used appropriately, may provide novel insights on racial and ethnic health inequities. Quantifying the impact of structural racism on social determinants of health is one step toward developing policies and interventions to create equitable built environment resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukun Yang
- Center for Antiracist Research, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ahyoung Cho
- Center for Antiracist Research, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Political Science, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Quynh Nguyen
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park
| | - Elaine O. Nsoesie
- Center for Antiracist Research, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Global Health, School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
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6
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Williams KDA, Adkins A, Kuo SIC, LaRose JG, Utsey SO, Guidry JPD, Dick D, Carlyle KE. Mental health disorder symptom prevalence and rates of help-seeking among University-Enrolled, emerging adults. JOURNAL OF AMERICAN COLLEGE HEALTH : J OF ACH 2023; 71:61-68. [PMID: 33735596 PMCID: PMC8448792 DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2021.1873791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Objective. Examine mental health symptom prevalence and rates of campus services utilization among Black male, White male and Black female college students. Participants. 2500 students from an ongoing, student survey at a public university; launched in 2011. Methods. Measures included data for anxiety and depressive symptoms and utilization of campus health services (counseling center, health services, etc.). Descriptive analyses determined prevalence and utilization rates. Mann Whitney U tests compared prevalence. Chi-squared tests compared utilization rates. Results. Anxiety prevalence: greater than 60% of students from each ethnic group reported symptoms; reporting rates decreased significantly for Black men (49.6%); p < 0.001. Depression prevalence: greater than 80% reported symptoms; there were significant differences in reporting between Black men and Black women (72.7% vs. 87.1%, p < 0.001). Utilization: Black men utilized counseling services less than White men (20.4% vs. 37.8%, p = 0.024). Conclusion. Black men report depressive and anxiety symptoms but underutilize campus health resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kofoworola D. A. Williams
- Department of Health Behavior and Policy, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Amy Adkins
- Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University College of Humanities & Sciences, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Sally I-Chun Kuo
- Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University College of Humanities & Sciences, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Jessica G. LaRose
- Department of Health Behavior and Policy, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Shawn O. Utsey
- Department of African American Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University College of Humanities & Sciences, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Jeanine P. D. Guidry
- Robertson School of Media and Culture, Virginia Commonwealth University College of Humanities & Sciences, Richmond, VA, USA
| | | | - Danielle Dick
- Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University College of Humanities & Sciences, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Kellie E. Carlyle
- Department of Health Behavior and Policy, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
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7
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Jones NE, Lewis K, Brown AM. Navigating a hyperracialized space: exploring the intersections of whiteness, social control, and mental health in st. louis county, missouri. ETHNIC AND RACIAL STUDIES 2022; 46:966-986. [PMID: 36919022 PMCID: PMC10010681 DOI: 10.1080/01419870.2022.2085523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Places marred by a legacy of racial violence have contemporary implications for racial and ethnic minorities. However, there is limited work examining how racial and ethnic minorities perceive and navigate these spaces and how they may affect their health. We examine the daily lives of Black residents of St. Louis County, living in what we refer to as a hyperracialized space, or areas characterized by multiple forms of violence, to understand how navigating a hyperracialized space impacts how Black residents negotiate space and make meaning of their health. Qualitative interviews (n = 20) revealed three themes: (1) Whiteness and the maintenance of a hyperracialized space, (2) unspoken rules of police encounters and the embodiment of self-regulation, (3) and hypervigilance. Narratives reveal how individuals and institutions concretize a hyperracialized space through social control. Moreover, participants discussed how their environment influenced how they interacted with and navigated space, the toll of which elicited hypervigilance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole E. Jones
- Department of Sociology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, US
| | - Kaleea Lewis
- Department of Public Health and Department of Women’s and Gender Studies, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, US
| | - Alaysia M. Brown
- Department of Human Development and Family Science, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, US
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8
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Mercier CM, Abbott DM, Ternes MS. Coping Matters: An Examination of Coping among Black Americans During COVID-19. COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGIST 2022. [DOI: 10.1177/00110000211069598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Using a critical race theory framework and a convergent mixed-method design, this study examined the relationship between coping with stress and psychological distress among Black U.S. Americans ( N = 155) during the COVID-19 pandemic in the context of race-based stressors (e.g., anti-Black racism). Path analysis revealed mixed support for hypotheses; avoidant coping was positively related to all measured facets of psychological distress, whereas socially supported coping was associated with none. Self-sufficient coping was negatively associated with only depressive symptoms. Qualitative analysis revealed four salient themes: (a) Race and the COVID-19 Pandemic, (b) Complex Pandemic Related Changes to Life, (c) Emotional Responses to the Pandemic, and (d) Coping with the COVID Pandemic. These themes suggested the pandemic disrupted participants’ ability to engage in, or effectively use, typically adaptive coping strategies and distress was exacerbated by fears for the safety of other Black U.S. Americans. Implications for training, practice, research, and advocacy are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin M. Mercier
- Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA, USA
| | - Dena M. Abbott
- Department of Educational Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Michael S. Ternes
- Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA, USA
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9
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Tavares CD, Bell CN, Zare H, Hudson D, Thorpe RJ. Allostatic Load, Income, and Race Among Black and White Men in the United States. Am J Mens Health 2022; 16:15579883221092290. [PMID: 35466781 PMCID: PMC9036348 DOI: 10.1177/15579883221092290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Research indicates that income is significantly associated with allostatic load (AL) and that this association may differ between White and Black Americans. Most existing income–AL link work focuses on women and less is known about this association among men. Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), we examined whether race moderates the association between income and AL among Black and White men in the United States (n = 5,685). We find that, regardless of income levels, Black men have significantly higher prevalence of being in the high-AL group compared with high-income White men. Our findings suggest that Black men do not receive the same health benefits for increased income relative to their White counterparts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos D Tavares
- Department of Anthropology and Sociology, Lafayette College, Easton, PA, USA
| | - Caryn N Bell
- Department of Social, Behavioral, and Population Sciences, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Hossein Zare
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Global Health Services and Administration, University of Maryland Global Campus, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Darrell Hudson
- Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Roland J Thorpe
- Department of Health, Behavior, and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
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10
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Mekawi Y, Carter S, Packard G, Wallace S, Michopoulos V, Powers A. When (passive) acceptance hurts: Race-based coping moderates the association between racial discrimination and mental health outcomes among Black Americans. PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA : THEORY, RESEARCH, PRACTICE AND POLICY 2022; 14:38-46. [PMID: 35025578 PMCID: PMC9247890 DOI: 10.1037/tra0001077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
There is growing evidence that general coping plays a role in the degree to which racial discrimination is associated with mental health symptoms (e.g., posttraumatic stress, depressive symptoms) for people of color. Relatively less is known about the role that race-based coping may play in the associations between racial discrimination and mental health for Black Americans. OBJECTIVE In this study, we examined whether posttraumatic stress and depressive symptoms differed based on race-based coping style and tested whether these responses moderated associations between racial discrimination and posttraumatic stress. METHOD Black American adults (n = 401; 56.1% women, x̄ age = 44.02) were recruited from a community hospital setting. Based on a measure assessing race-based coping style, participants were classified as having either a passive, moderate, or active response style. RESULTS First, we found that posttraumatic stress (F = 5.56, p < .01) and depressive (F = 4.49, p = .01) symptom severity differed based on race-based coping classification, with more severe symptoms found for the passive versus active group. Second, we found that race-based coping moderated racial discrimination's associations with posttraumatic stress (R2Δ = .02, F = 4.08, p = .02) and depressive (R2Δ = .02, F = 3.26, p = .04) symptoms, such that the associations between racial discrimination and symptom severity were only significant for the passive and moderate (but not active) groups. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that for Black Americans, coping with racism actively (vs. passively) may buffer the association between racial discrimination and psychological symptom severity. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yara Mekawi
- Emory School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences,Corresponding author: Yara Mekawi, PhD, Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences,
| | | | | | - Shimarith Wallace
- Emory School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
| | | | - Abigail Powers
- Emory School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
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11
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Traditional Masculinity: A Review of Toxicity Rooted in Social Norms and Gender Socialization. ANS Adv Nurs Sci 2021; 43:E1-E10. [PMID: 31299692 DOI: 10.1097/ans.0000000000000284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The toxicity of traditional masculinity has become a heated topic of mainstream media debate since the American Psychological Association's release of psychological treatment guidelines for men and boys. To recognize how traditional masculinity is toxic, there needs to be greater understanding of the social norms and gender socialization behind traditional masculinity. Gender-based social norms and gender socialization have had dire consequences on how men behave, act in relationships, and care for their health. There is a need to reform the perception of masculinity in the contemporary social climate.
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12
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Mekawi Y, Hyatt CS, Maples-Keller J, Carter S, Michopoulos V, Powers A. Racial Discrimination Predicts Mental Health Outcomes Beyond the Role of Personality Traits in a Community Sample of African Americans. Clin Psychol Sci 2021; 9:183-196. [PMID: 36968342 PMCID: PMC10038392 DOI: 10.1177/2167702620957318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Despite a consistent body of work documenting associations between racial discrimination and negative mental health outcomes, the utility and validity of these findings have recently been questioned because some authors have posited that personality traits may account for these associations. To test this hypothesis in a community sample of African Americans ( n = 419, age: M = 43.96 years), we used bivariate relations and hierarchical regression analyses to determine whether racial discrimination accounted for additional variance in depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress symptoms beyond the role of personality. Bivariate relations between personality traits and racial discrimination were small and positive (i.e., rs ≈ .10). Regression results demonstrated that racial discrimination accounted for variance in depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress independent of personality traits ( ps < .01). These results suggest that personality traits do not fully explain associations between racial discrimination and negative mental health outcomes, further supporting the detrimental impact of racial discrimination on the mental health of African Americans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yara Mekawi
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory School of Medicine
| | | | | | | | | | - Abigail Powers
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory School of Medicine
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13
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Dogan JN, Thrasher S, Thorpe SY, Hargons C, Stevens-Watkins D. Cultural race-related stress and cannabis use among incarcerated African American men. PSYCHOLOGY OF ADDICTIVE BEHAVIORS 2021; 35:320-325. [PMID: 33555899 DOI: 10.1037/adb0000694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Research suggests African American men use cannabis to cope with racial discrimination. This conjecture may also be true for incarcerated African American men, who report high rates of cannabis use prior to and after incarceration. However, no studies to date have examined the association between race-related stress and chronic cannabis use among incarcerated African American men. As this population encounters pervasive negative cultural stereotypes and devaluation from larger society, cultural race-related stress may predict cannabis use among this population. Therefore, the purpose of this brief report was to examine the relationship between cultural race-related stress and years of regular cannabis use among a sample of incarcerated African American men. METHOD Study staff completed interviews with N = 177 African American men nearing release from four prisons in Kentucky. The interviews focused on mental health, drug use, and HIV risk behaviors. Participants provided their demographics (e.g., age, years of education, and length of incarceration), self-reported their years of regular cannabis use (3 times or more per week), and completed the Brief Index of Race-Related Stress (IRRS-B; Utsey, Measurement & Evaluation in Counseling & Development, 1999, 32, 149). RESULTS Multivariate regression analyses demonstrated cultural race-related stress was significant and positively associated with the number of years of regular cannabis use (p = .003) among this population. CONCLUSIONS This finding has implications for culturally tailored substance abuse treatment, specifically for cannabis use, with African American men upon their community re-entry from prison. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jardin N Dogan
- Department of Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology, University of Kentucky
| | | | - Shemeka Y Thorpe
- Department of Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology, University of Kentucky
| | - Candice Hargons
- Department of Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology, University of Kentucky
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14
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Goodwill JR, Taylor RJ, Watkins DC. Everyday Discrimination, Depressive Symptoms, and Suicide Ideation Among African American Men. Arch Suicide Res 2021; 25:74-93. [PMID: 31597538 DOI: 10.1080/13811118.2019.1660287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Suicide has remained a leading cause of death among African American males, yet empirical investigations that focus on the experiences of this group are limited. Therefore, we aim to interrogate the impact of everyday discrimination as a risk factor for depressive symptoms and suicide ideation among African American men. Data were drawn from the African American male subsample of the National Survey of American Life (n = 1,271). Path analysis and tests for indirect effects were used to examine relationships between everyday discrimination, depressive symptoms, and suicide ideation. Three sources of everyday discrimination were examined (any everyday discrimination, race-based everyday discrimination, and other everyday discrimination). Study findings revealed that race-based everyday discrimination was the only type of discrimination that was significantly associated with both increased rates of depressive symptoms and suicide ideation. Further, the indirect effect from race-based everyday discrimination to suicide ideation via depressive symptoms was also statistically significant. Thus, the impact of daily encounters with discrimination extends beyond depressive symptoms and is related to higher rates of suicide ideation. Moreover, experiences with discrimination do not have to be overt to be harmful toward African American men's mental health. Culturally relevant suicide prevention interventions are needed to account for the role of discrimination in the lives of African American men.
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Clark EM, Ma L, Knott CL, Williams BR, Park CL, Schulz EK, Ghosh D. A longitudinal examination of social support as a mediator of the personality-health relationship in a national sample of African Americans. JOURNAL OF BLACK PSYCHOLOGY 2020; 46:607-637. [PMID: 34354319 DOI: 10.1177/0095798420966826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The present study investigates whether social support mediates the relationship between personality traits and health among African Americans over a five-year period, filling a gap in the literature on longitudinal tests of the personality-health association. Data were collected from a national probability sample of African American adults (N = 200). Personality was assessed at Time 1 (T1), social support was assessed 2.5 years later (T2), and physical functioning was examined 5 years (T3) after T1. Telephone surveys included measures of the Five Factor Model personality traits (T1), social support (T2), and physical functioning (T3). Results suggested that relationships between the T1 personality traits and T3 physical functioning were not mediated by T2 social support. Secondary analyses found that among all T1 personality traits, higher openness and lower neuroticism uniquely predicted higher T2 social support. Further, among T1 personality traits, higher conscientiousness uniquely predicted better T3 physical functioning. This information may be useful to healthcare providers and community members in developing prevention and intervention strategies for African Americans.
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African American fathers' coping patterns: Implications for father-son involvement and race-related discussions. JOURNAL OF APPLIED DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.appdev.2020.101163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Jones SCT, Anderson RE, Gaskin-Wasson AL, Sawyer BA, Applewhite K, Metzger IW. From "crib to coffin": Navigating coping from racism-related stress throughout the lifespan of Black Americans. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF ORTHOPSYCHIATRY 2020; 90:267-282. [PMID: 32105125 PMCID: PMC8807348 DOI: 10.1037/ort0000430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Despite the proclamation of a "postracial" society, racism in the United States remains "alive and sick" (S. P. Harrell, 2000), negatively impacting the physical, psychological, and emotional well-being of Black Americans. Moreover, the complex impact of racism throughout the life span is inadequately understood. Coping with the insidiousness of racism in its myriad forms requires recognizing how it expresses across development. In this developmental overview, we apply a life-course perspective (Gee, Walsemann, & Brondolo, 2012) to investigate racism-related stress and coping over time. Within each period of development, we first explore how racism-related stress may present for Black Americans and then document what coping from this stress looks like, highlighting extant strategies and interventions where they exist. This work concludes with a set of definitional, methodological, and clinical future directions and recommendations for improving the field's ability to mitigate the deleterious impact of racism-related stress. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
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McClendon J, Bogdan R, Jackson JJ, Oltmanns TF. Mechanisms of Black–White disparities in health among older adults: Examining discrimination and personality. J Health Psychol 2019; 26:995-1011. [DOI: 10.1177/1359105319860180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
We tested whether personality traits help explain the association between discrimination and racial health disparities in a sample of 1033 Black and White older adults. Participants completed measures of discrimination, personality, and self-reported physical and mental health. Elevated discrimination among Black participants was indirectly linked to worse physical and mental health outcomes through elevated neuroticism and lower agreeableness, controlling income, education, and gender. The specific facets of depression, impulsiveness, and trust were the most robust intervening personality factors. Interventions that target cognitive, emotional, and behavioral sequelae of discrimination may lessen its impact on health disparities.
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Hicks MR, Kogan SM. Racial Discrimination, Protective Processes, and Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Black Young Males. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2019; 48:507-519. [PMID: 30671878 PMCID: PMC7931456 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-018-1341-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Revised: 10/31/2018] [Accepted: 11/01/2018] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Racial discrimination is a documented risk factor for sexual risk behaviors among young Black men. Mechanisms of effect and protective processes remain to be investigated. This study examined the mediating effect of emotional distress, self-regulation, and substance use on the association between racial discrimination and sexual risk behaviors. Sexual risk behaviors included in this study were inconsistent condom use and sexual concurrency (sexual partnerships that overlap overtime). The protective effect of protective social ties was also investigated. A sample of 505 heterosexually active men aged 19-22 years were recruited and surveyed for 3 time points. Men answered questions on racial discrimination, sexual risk behaviors, emotional distress, self-regulation, and substance use. Mediation and moderation models were tested. Racial discrimination (T1) significantly and positively predicted emotional distress (T2). Emotional distress, substance use, and self-regulation partially mediated the association between racial discrimination and sexual risk behaviors. Protective social ties attenuated the effects of emotional distress on substance use and self-regulation. Racial discrimination is an important context for sexual risk behaviors. Minority stress may translate to sexual risk behavior through psychosocial mediators, such as emotional distress, self-regulation, and substance use. Protective social ties may buffer against emotional distress to reduce substance use and increase self-regulation. The findings of this study can provide new insights through the investigation of risk and protective processes that influence sexual risk behaviors among young Black men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan R Hicks
- School of Social Work, Wayne State University, 5447 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI, 48202, USA.
| | - Steven M Kogan
- Human Development and Family Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
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Hudson DL, Eaton J, Banks A, Sewell W, Neighbors H. "Down in the Sewers": Perceptions of Depression and Depression Care Among African American Men. Am J Mens Health 2018; 12:126-137. [PMID: 27329141 PMCID: PMC5734547 DOI: 10.1177/1557988316654864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Depression is one of the most common, costly, and debilitating psychiatric disorders in the United States. One of the most persistent mental health disparities is the underutilization of treatment services among African American men with depression. Little is known about appropriateness or acceptability of depression care among African American men. The purpose of this study was to examine perceptions of depression and determine barriers to depression treatment among African American men. A series of four focus groups were conducted with 26 African American men. The average age of the sample was 41 years and most participants reported that they had completed high school. Nearly half of the participants reported that they are currently unemployed and most had never been married. The most common descriptions of depression in this study were defining depression as feeling down, stressed, and isolated. A small group of participants expressed disbelief of depression. The majority of participants recognized the need to identify depression and were supportive of depression treatment. Nonetheless, most men in this sample had never sought treatment for depression and discussed a number of barriers to depression care including norms of masculinity, mistrust of the health care system, and affordability of treatment. Men also voiced their desire to discuss stress in nonjudgmental support groups. Research findings highlight the need to increase the awareness of symptoms some African American men display and the need to provide appropriate depression treatment options to African American men.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jake Eaton
- Washington University in Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Andrae Banks
- Washington University in Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Whitney Sewell
- Washington University in Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
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