Health status among urban African American women: associations among well-being, perceived stress, and demographic factors.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the associations among health status, well-being, and perceived stress in a sample of urban African American women. African American women (n = 128) (Mean +/- SD, 49.3 +/- 10.5) from Baltimore, Maryland, enrolled in a church-based physical activity randomized trial were included in the analysis. Health status was assessed from the SF-36. Well-being, perceived stress, and demographics were also determined from self-report. Results indicated that the sample reported favorable health status, well-being, and stress levels compared to mean levels reported in the literature. Spearman rank-order correlations indicated that perceived stress score negatively correlated with most health status dimensions and well-being in the present, past, and future. Multiple regression analyses, adjusting for potential demographic confounders, indicated that higher perceived stress was associated with lower health status and well-being. If these results are confirmed in prospective investigations, they suggest that interventions designed to reduce stress may impact health status and future morbidity and mortality.
Young
Deborah Rohm
DR
Department of Kinesiology, HHP Building 2312, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA. dryoung@umd.edu
He
Xiaoxing
X
Genkinger
Jeanine
J
Sapun
Marcella
M
Mabry
Iris
I
Jehn
Megan
M
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015142:Baltimore; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014505:Urban Population; D016387:Women's Health