The Epidemiology of Coping in African American Adults in the Jackson Heart Study (JHS)

Abstract

Differences in coping within the African American population are not well understood, yet these differences may be critical to reducing stress, improving health, and reducing racial health disparities. Using a descriptive, exploratory analysis of the Jackson Heart Study (N = 5301), we examine correlations between coping responses and associations between coping and demographic, socioeconomic, psychosocial, and neighborhood factors. Overall, coping responses were not strongly correlated and patterns of associations between covariates and coping responses were largely inconsistent. The results suggest that coping varies substantially within this African American population and is driven mainly by psychosocial factors such as spirituality and interpersonal support. Understanding these complex relationships may inform strategies by which to intervene in the stress process to mitigate the effects of stress on health and to identify vulnerable subgroups of African Americans that might need targeted interventions to reduce exposure to stressors and improve coping capacities.

Intersectional effects of racial and gender discrimination on cardiovascular health vary among black and white women and men in the CARDIA study

“…The model suggests that for some gendered race groups in certain places and settings, reported discrimination is more likely to reflect interactions that meet objective standards of inequitable treatment. In these cases, acknowledging experiences that actually occur may be beneficial for health, while denying may lead to increased stress and stress-related pathology regardless of one's gendered race group (Brenner, Diez-Roux, Gabreab, Schulz, & Sims, 2018; Cunningham et al, 2012a, 2012b). From building social networks based on shared experiences to enabling the development of healthier coping behaviors (Borrell et al, 2013; Chae, Lincold, & Jackson, 2011), recognizing and acknowledging the discrimination one encounters may allow for chronic stress relief that reduces risk for CVD associated with discrimination exposure (Brenner et al, 2018; Cunningham et al, 2012a, 2012b).…”

Health Disparities at the Intersection of Gender and Race: Beyond Intersectionality Theory in Epidemiologic Research

“…The model suggests that for some gendered race groups in certain places and settings, reported discrimination is more likely to reflect interactions that meet objective standards of inequitable treatment. In these cases, acknowledging experiences that actually occur may be beneficial for health, while denying may lead to increased stress and stress-related pathology regardless of one's gendered race group [50,111]. From building social networks based on shared experiences to enabling the development of healthier coping behaviors [27,109], recognizing and acknowledging the discrimination one encounters may allow for chronic stress relief that reduces risk for CVD associated with discrimination exposure [50,111].…”

“…The authors suggest that identity triggers, or elements of the social environment that trigger awareness of one's social status, are one mechanism through which structured inequities act to differentially impact on health and lead to health disparities. The unequal social conditions in which black and white women and men are situated influence the type and saturation of identity triggers each of these groups will encounter, as well as available coping resources [39,111], within and across various social settings [42]. According to this framework, experiences of discrimination pose a setting-specific disease risk for each gendered race group.…”

“…Experiences of discrimination based on gendered race that occur in the context of medical care, education, or in interactions with law enforcement, for example, can bring to bear historically structured power imbalances through heightened awareness of one's stigmatized status in the form of race consciousness [99,115]. Instances of interpersonal discrimination in these specific settings may be uniquely stressful for marginalized persons both because of the likelihood of recurrence and a perceived lack of opportunities for retribution [39,42,111].…”

COVID-19: Growing Health Disparity Gaps and an Opportunity for Health Behavior Discovery?

“…32 And intervention studies shown to increase self-compassion 33 and increase social cohesion 34 may lead to decreased IL-6 levels. Notably, social cohesion and activities that promote such cohesion, including engaging in church services, are recognized psychosocial coping factors among African Americans, 35,36 even within the context of psychosocially stressful events. 37 Thus, these intervention approaches may allow for the leveraging of existing coping skills and resilience factors in African American communities.…”