Determinants of a sense of mastery in African American and White older adults.
OBJECTIVE
This study compares determinants of a sense of mastery in African American and White older adults.


METHODS
The association between predictor variables (sociodemographic variables, health conditions, social resources, and religiosity) and feelings of mastery was assessed by using representative community-dwelling samples of 250 African American (mean age = 71.6) and 452 White (mean age = 73.0) older adults.


RESULTS
African American older adults had a lower sense of mastery than White older adults. Significant modification by race was found in the associations of age, self-rated health, and religiosity with feelings of mastery. The negative effects of old age and poor health on feelings of mastery were stronger in the White sample, whereas the positive effect of religiosity on feelings of mastery was observed only in the African American sample.


CONCLUSIONS
Although African American older adults had a lower sense of mastery than Whites, their feelings of mastery were less likely to be diminished by old age and poor health and more likely to be enhanced by religiosity. Possible explanations for cross-racial differences are discussed, as are implications.
Jang
Yuri
Y
Institute on Aging, University of South Florida, Tampa, USA. yjang@geron.uga.edu
Borenstein-Graves
Amy
A
Haley
William E
WE
Small
Brent J
BJ
Mortimer
James A
JA
D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012803:Sick Role; D012944:Social Support; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology*