title: Racial Differences in the Effect of Stress on Health and the Moderating Role of Perceived Social Support.
abstract: The current study examined racial differences in the relationship between late-life stress and health functioning and the moderating role of perceived social support (PSS) in older adults.
  
  
  
  A biracial sample of community-dwelling older adults (65+) from the first two waves of the Duke University's Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly (EPESE; N = 2,952) was analyzed. Baseline levels of PSS and stress were obtained. Health status was assessed at baseline and follow-up.
  
  
  
  Analyses revealed a positive effect of PSS on health functioning. There was a three-way interaction among race, stress, and PSS on health functioning. Probing the interaction, for Caucasians, PSS was beneficial at low stress, but not high stress. For African Americans, PSS had a positive effect regardless of stress level.
  
  
  
  PSS is an important protective factor for preserving positive health in late-life; however, benefits may differ by race and intensity of stressor.
authors.affiliation: 1 Florida State University, Tallahassee, USA.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sheffler
authors.affiliation: 1 Florida State University, Tallahassee, USA.
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sachs-Ericsson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010465:Perception; D044469:Racial Groups; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000208:ethnology*
keywords: health status; older adult; perceived social support; stress