PURPOSE: African Americans are disproportionately affected by hypertension. The goal here was to better understand the relationship between well-being and environmental factors and their influence on hypertension. It was hypothesized that there would be a positive association among perceived stress, depression, and hypertension mediated by social support. METHODS: Data from 2 sample populations were included: the Carolina African American Study of Aging (N = 395) and the Baltimore Study of Black Aging (N = 602) provided information on demographics, perceived stress, social support, depression, and hypertension. Regression analysis was used to examine the hypothesis. RESULTS: Significant relationships were found between perceived stress/depression and hypertension. The relationship between depression and hypertension was partially mediated by social support (given), while the relationship between depression and hypertension was not. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the impact of stress and hypertension is mediated by individual coping strategies. Given the excess stress and hypertension experienced by African Americans, coping may be a particularly salient factor in longevity. Future research should provide insight about specific aspects of coping and other personal characteristics that facilitate and limit the effect of coping on hypertension.
PURPOSE: African Americans are disproportionately affected by hypertension. The goal here was to better understand the relationship between well-being and environmental factors and their influence on hypertension. It was hypothesized that there would be a positive association among perceived stress, depression, and hypertension mediated by social support. METHODS: Data from 2 sample populations were included: the Carolina African American Study of Aging (N = 395) and the Baltimore Study of Black Aging (N = 602) provided information on demographics, perceived stress, social support, depression, and hypertension. Regression analysis was used to examine the hypothesis. RESULTS: Significant relationships were found between perceived stress/depression and hypertension. The relationship between depression and hypertension was partially mediated by social support (given), while the relationship between depression and hypertension was not. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the impact of stress and hypertension is mediated by individual coping strategies. Given the excess stress and hypertension experienced by African Americans, coping may be a particularly salient factor in longevity. Future research should provide insight about specific aspects of coping and other personal characteristics that facilitate and limit the effect of coping on hypertension.
Authors: Chelsie E Benca-Bachman; Dalora D Najera; Keith E Whitfield; Janiece L Taylor; Roland J Thorpe; Rohan H C Palmer Journal: Am J Geriatr Psychiatry Date: 2020-02-13 Impact factor: 4.105
Authors: DeAnnah R Byrd; Yanping Jiang; Samuele Zilioli; Roland J Thorpe; Peter A Lichtenberg; Keith E Whitfield Journal: J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci Date: 2022-02-03 Impact factor: 6.591
Authors: David H Chae; Amani M Nuru-Jeter; Nancy E Adler; Gene H Brody; Jue Lin; Elizabeth H Blackburn; Elissa S Epel Journal: Am J Prev Med Date: 2014-02 Impact factor: 5.043
Authors: Regina C Sims; Roland J Thorpe; Alyssa A Gamaldo; Adrienne T Aiken-Morgan; LaBarron K Hill; Jason C Allaire; Keith E Whitfield Journal: J Aging Health Date: 2014-07-21