Race Differences in Personality and Affect Between Older White and Black Patients: an Exploratory Study

Abstract

Objective There is limited research focusing on the five-factor model (FFM) of personality among diverse older adults, particularly cancer patient populations. This study aimed to examine the association of personality traits, positive and negative affect, and health in White and Black older adults receiving outpatient treatment for various cancer types. Design Data were collected from 150 patients (123 White and 27 Black patients), with a mean age of 65.38 years (SD=7.72). Participants were surveyed on personality traits, affect, physical and mental functioning, and demographic characteristics. Results Analyses showed no significant race differences in the FFM of personality. However, Black patients reported significantly higher positive affect than White patients. Results further indicated that higher positive affect and lower negative affect were significant predictors of higher mental functioning for White patients. Neuroticism predicted worse mental functioning (lower vitality, social functioning, emotions, and mental health) in Black patients but not for the White patients. Conclusion These findings suggest associations among identified sociocultural factors, personality, affect, and health. These characteristics may ultimately influence health outcomes and symptom management across various patient populations.

Race/Ethnicity Moderates the Association Between Psychosocial Resilience and Movement‐Evoked Pain in Knee Osteoarthritis

“…Although there is some evidence that positive psychological factors may also differ across race/ethnicity, results have been mixed, and studies have predominantly been conducted in nonclinical (ie, pain‐free) populations. Of these, similar levels of optimism , resilience , social support , and dispositional hope have been observed across race/ethnicity, whereas other studies have found higher PA among NHBs relative to white participants . In the two studies exploring pain‐coping differences in an OA population, one found lower arthritis self‐efficacy in NHBs ; however, comparable levels of pain self‐efficacy across race/ethnicity have also been noted .…”

Conscientiousness Is Associated with Lower Risk of Dementia among Black and White Older Adults

“…Moreover, previous research has largely focused on Caucasian older adults [9] and thus it is unclear how these traits relate to risk of dementia in more diverse populations. This is an important limitation, as relationships between personality and other health outcomes differ by race, including between white and black individuals [13,14], and there are known racial disparities in rates of dementia and other factors that influence dementia risk [15][16][17].…”

Race and ethnic differences in additive and multiplicative effects of depression and anxiety on cardiovascular risk

“…[ 6 ] These contextual factors are also able to change additive and multiplicative effects of risk and protective factors even when their separate effects are similar. [ 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 ] Race, ethnicity, gender, and their intersections modify the separate[ 15 ] and combined[ 16 ] effects of anxiety and depressive disorders on obesity,[ 15 16 17 ] cardiovascular diseases (CVDs)[ 6 17 18 19 ] and well-being. [ 7 ] The International Journal of Preventive Medicine[ 10 11 12 ] and a few other journals[ 13 14 20 21 ] are making an immense contribution to this field by publishing the results of empirical evidence suggesting how race, ethnicity, and gender operate as moderators.…”