title: Racial Differences in Exposure and Reactivity to Daily Family Stressors.
abstract: Using data from the National Study of Daily Experiences (NSDE), this study examined racial differences in exposure and reactivity to daily stressors involving family members. Respondents included African American and European American adults aged 34 to 84 (N= 1,931) who participated in 8 days of daily interviews where they reported on daily stressors, affect, and physical health symptoms. Results revealed racial similarities in family stressor exposure. Both races were also emotionally reactive to family arguments and family network events (i.e., events that happen to a family member), whereas African Americans were more physically reactive to family arguments. For African Americans, reactivity to family arguments endured; the increased negative affect and physical symptoms associated with family arguments lasted into the next day. Findings provide evidence for racial similarities and differences, suggesting that family relationships are universally stressful, whereas the negative effects of family stressors are more enduring among African Americans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Kent State University.
authors.forename: Kelly E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Cichy
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Stawski
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Almeida
references.citation: J Health Soc Behav. 1999 Sep;40(3):208-30
references.pmid: 10513145
references.citation: J Pers Soc Psychol. 1987 Jan;52(1):184-95
references.pmid: 3820071
references.citation: Brain Behav Immun. 2009 Jul;23(5):684-92
references.pmid: 19171188
references.citation: J Pers Soc Psychol. 1989 Nov;57(5):808-18
references.pmid: 2810026
references.citation: J Pers Soc Psychol. 1988 Jun;54(6):1063-70
references.pmid: 3397865
references.citation: Am J Community Psychol. 1990 Jun;18(3):423-38
references.pmid: 2264558
references.citation: Psychol Aging. 2009 Sep;24(3):645-53
references.pmid: 19739920
references.citation: J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2001 Mar;56(2):S112-8
references.pmid: 11245365
references.citation: Am J Public Health. 2002 Apr;92(4):588-97
references.pmid: 11919058
references.citation: J Health Soc Behav. 2005 Jun;46(2):205-19
references.pmid: 16028458
references.citation: J Pers Soc Psychol. 1995 Nov;69(5):890-902
references.pmid: 7473036
references.citation: J Pers Soc Psychol. 1998 Nov;75(5):1333-49
references.pmid: 9866191
references.citation: Annu Rev Psychol. 2003;54:579-616
references.pmid: 12499517
references.citation: Gerontologist. 2002 Apr;42(2):237-72
references.pmid: 11914467
references.citation: Psychol Aging. 2009 Dec;24(4):828-40
references.pmid: 20025399
references.citation: J Health Soc Behav. 2004 Mar;45(1):1-16
references.pmid: 15179904
references.citation: J Pers Soc Psychol. 2009 Jun;96(6):1259-71
references.pmid: 19469600
references.citation: Am J Public Health. 2002 Apr;92(4):615-23
references.pmid: 11919062
references.citation: J Behav Med. 2009 Feb;32(1):20-47
references.pmid: 19030981
references.citation: Am J Epidemiol. 2010 Dec 1;172(11):1238-49
references.pmid: 20884682
references.citation: Assessment. 2002 Mar;9(1):41-55
references.pmid: 11911234
references.citation: Am J Public Health. 2006 May;96(5):826-33
references.pmid: 16380565
references.citation: J Health Soc Behav. 2003 Sep;44(3):390-407
references.pmid: 14582315
references.citation: Am J Hypertens. 2011 Feb;24(2):187-93
references.pmid: 20847728
references.citation: N Engl J Med. 1997 Oct 23;337(17):1209-14
references.pmid: 9337381
references.citation: Psychol Med. 2002 Aug;32(6):959-76
references.pmid: 12214795