The relationship of racism, chronic stress emotions, and blood pressure.
OBJECTIVE
To test a middle-range theory of chronic stress emotions to examine the effects of perceived racism and emotion-focused coping on psychological and physiological health outcomes in African Americans.


METHODS
A descriptive-correlational, causal modeling study was conducted with a convenience sample of 162 community-dwelling adults.


METHODS
Participants completed the Racism and Life Experience Scale; Krieger Racial Discrimination Questionnaire; Toronto Alexithymia Scale; Emotional Approach Coping Scale; State-Trait Personality Inventory; and a demographic data sheet. Automated blood pressure (BP) readings were obtained.


METHODS
Structural equation modeling techniques were used to examine the hypothesized causal and correlational links between the theoretical constructs, as well as to examine the relationship between the observed variables and the latent constructs measured. FINDING AND CONCLUSIONS: The proposed model fits the sample data. Racism was a commonly experienced stressor associated with chronic stress emotions, but not with BP. Emotion-focused coping was strongly associated with socioeconomic status and chronic stress emotions but not with BP.
Peters
Rosalind M
RM
Wayne State University, College of Nursing, Detroit, Michigan 48202, USA. rpeters@wayne.edu
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000208:ethnology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D015984:Causality; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology; D008016:Life Change Events; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015146:Midwestern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011287:Prejudice; D011582:Psychological Theory; D011822:Race Relations / Q000523:psychology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires