Chelsie E Benca-Bachman1, Dalora D Najera2, Keith E Whitfield3, Janiece L Taylor4, Roland J Thorpe5, Rohan H C Palmer2. 1. Behavioral Genetics of Addiction Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Emory University (CEB-B, DDN, RCHP), Atlanta, GA. Electronic address: chelsie.benca@emory.edu. 2. Behavioral Genetics of Addiction Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Emory University (CEB-B, DDN, RCHP), Atlanta, GA. 3. Wayne State University (KEW), Detroit, MI. 4. Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University (JLT), Baltimore, MD. 5. Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins University (RJT), Baltimore, MD.
Abstract
Social support (SS) is typically associated with lower emotional distress (e.g., stress and depression) in individuals. However, SS is a multifaceted construct that can vary by quality, quantity (amount), and type (i.e., it can be emotional or instrumental in nature). OBJECTIVE: The current study examined the relationships between characteristics of SS, stress, and depression in aging African Americans. PARTICIPANTS: Analyses focused on data from 705 participants aged 22-92 years from the Carolina African American Twin Study of Aging. MEASUREMENTS: Measures included the quality and quantity of emotional and instrumental support received, as well as stress and depression. DESIGN: A series of univariate and increasingly complex multivariate regression models were conducted in MPlus (using the cluster option to control for family structure) to examine the relationships between SS and emotional distress variables. RESULTS: Overall, better quality of emotional SS predicted fewer depression symptoms and less perceived stress, after controlling for age, gender, socioeconomic status variables, and the other subtypes of SS. However, more instances of emotional SS were associated with higher levels of perceived stress, depression symptoms, and more stressful life events within the past year. Likewise, more instrumental SS predicted more perceived stress, while holding the other variables constant. CONCLUSION: African Americans who experience more emotional distress report more SS, but the quality of emotional support appears to play an important role in the association between reduced levels of stress and depression. These findings suggest that interventions should include approaches to reduce emotional distress as well as enhance the quality SS.
Social support (SS) is typically associated with lower emotional distress (e.g., stress and depression) in individuals. However, SS is a multifaceted construct that can vary by quality, quantity (amount), and type (i.e., it can be emotional or instrumental in nature). OBJECTIVE: The current study examined the relationships between characteristics of SS, stress, and depression in aging African Americans. PARTICIPANTS: Analyses focused on data from 705 participants aged 22-92 years from the Carolina African American Twin Study of Aging. MEASUREMENTS: Measures included the quality and quantity of emotional and instrumental support received, as well as stress and depression. DESIGN: A series of univariate and increasingly complex multivariate regression models were conducted in MPlus (using the cluster option to control for family structure) to examine the relationships between SS and emotional distress variables. RESULTS: Overall, better quality of emotional SS predicted fewer depression symptoms and less perceived stress, after controlling for age, gender, socioeconomic status variables, and the other subtypes of SS. However, more instances of emotional SS were associated with higher levels of perceived stress, depression symptoms, and more stressful life events within the past year. Likewise, more instrumental SS predicted more perceived stress, while holding the other variables constant. CONCLUSION: African Americans who experience more emotional distress report more SS, but the quality of emotional support appears to play an important role in the association between reduced levels of stress and depression. These findings suggest that interventions should include approaches to reduce emotional distress as well as enhance the quality SS.
Authors: D S Strogatz; J B Croft; S A James; N L Keenan; S R Browning; J M Garrett; A B Curtis Journal: Epidemiology Date: 1997-09 Impact factor: 4.822
Authors: Keith E Whitfield; Dwayne T Brandon; Sebrina Wiggins; George Vogler; Gerry McClearn Journal: Exp Aging Res Date: 2003 Oct-Dec Impact factor: 1.645
Authors: Erika Heard; Keith E Whitfield; Christopher L Edwards; Marino A Bruce; Bettina M Beech Journal: J Natl Med Assoc Date: 2011-02 Impact factor: 1.798
Authors: John P Dennis; Megan A Markey; Karen A Johnston; Jillon S Vander Wal; Nancy T Artinian Journal: Heart Lung Date: 2008 Mar-Apr Impact factor: 2.210
Authors: Manka Nkimbeng; Nwakaego A Nmezi; Zachary G Baker; Janiece L Taylor; Yvonne Commodore-Mensah; Tetyana P Shippee; Sarah L Szanton; Joseph E Gaugler Journal: Clin Gerontol Date: 2021-09-16 Impact factor: 2.871
Authors: Maristella Lucchini; Louise M O'Brien; Linda G Kahn; Patricia A Brennan; Kelly Glazer Baron; Emily A Knapp; Claudia Lugo-Candelas; Lauren Shuffrey; Galit Levi Dunietz; Yeyi Zhu; Rosalind J Wright; Robert O Wright; Cristiane Duarte; Margaret R Karagas; Pakkay Ngai; Thomas G O'Connor; Julie B Herbstman; Sean Dioni; Anne Marie Singh; Carmela Alcantara; William P Fifer; Amy J Elliott Journal: Sleep Date: 2022-09-08 Impact factor: 6.313
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: Andrew Boateng-Poku; Chelsie E Benca-Bachman; Dalora D Najera; Keith E Whitfield; Janiece L Taylor; Roland J Thorpe; Rohan H C Palmer Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Date: 2020-02-14 Impact factor: 4.492
Authors: Brooks Yelton; Daniela B Friedman; Samuel Noblet; Matthew C Lohman; Michelle A Arent; Mark M Macauda; Mayank Sakhuja; Katherine H Leith Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-01-28 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Ayomide R Ojebuoboh; Amparo G Gonzalez-Feliciano; Kristen M Brown; Rumana J Khan; Ruihua Xu; Lisa A DeRoo; Jessica Lewis; Rakale C Quarells; Sharon K Davis Journal: BMC Psychiatry Date: 2022-02-21 Impact factor: 3.630
Authors: Meneka C Johnson Nicholson; Peter Martin; Megan Gilligan; Carolyn E Cutrona; Daniel W Russell; Tom J Schofield; Leonard W Poon Journal: Innov Aging Date: 2020-09-18