title: Mediating effects of social support on the relationship among perceived stress, depression, and hypertension in African Americans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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: School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA.
authors: Erika
authors: E
authors: Heard
authors: Keith E
authors: KE
authors: Whitfield
authors: Christopher L
authors: CL
authors: Edwards
authors: Marino A
authors: MA
authors: Bruce
authors: Bettina M
authors: BM
authors: Beech
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003863:Depression / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*