Age differences in health effects of stressors and perceived control among urban African American women

A. B Becker; B. A Israel; A. J Schulz; E. A Parker; L Klem

doi:10.1093/jurban/jti014

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Age differences in health effects of stressors and perceived control among urban African American women

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Age differences in health effects of stressors and perceived control among urban African American women

A. B Becker, B. A Israel, A. J Schulz, E. A Parker and L Klem

Journal of urban health, Vol.82(1), pp.122-141

03/2005

DOI: 10.1093/jurban/jti014

PMCID: PMC3456625

PMID: 15738329

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Abstract

A conceptual model of the stress process has been useful in examining relationships among a variety of stressors, health status, and protective factors that modify the health-stress relationship. The model can contribute to an understanding of variations in health among people living in urban environments experiencing high degrees of stress. This study examines social contextual stressors in the neighborhood, health outcomes, and perceived control at multiple levels beyond the individual as a protective factor, among a random sample (N=679) of predominantly low-income African American women who reside on Detroit’s east side. Findings suggest that although stress has a consistently negative impact on health, perceived control may buffer against the deleterious effects of stress. The buffering role of perceived control, however, depends on age, the type of stressor examined, and the context or level at which perceived control is assessed (e.g., organizational, neighborhood, beyond the neighborhood). For young women, perceived control was found to be health protective. Among older women, perceived control in the face of stressors was inversely related to health. These findings suggest the need for health and social servive programs and policy change strategies to both increase the actual influence and control of women living in low-income urban communities and to reduce the specific social contextual stressors they experience.

Community empowerment

Urban health

Perceived control

Stress

African American women

Details

Title: Subtitle: Age differences in health effects of stressors and perceived control among urban African American women
Creators: A. B Becker - Comifiunity Health Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal Street, Suite 2301, 70112 New Orleans, LA
B. A Israel - Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan
A. J Schulz - Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan
E. A Parker - Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan
L Klem - Center for Statistical Consultation and Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of urban health, Vol.82(1), pp.122-141
DOI: 10.1093/jurban/jti014
PMID: 15738329
PMCID: PMC3456625
NLM abbreviation: J Urban Health
ISSN: 1099-3460
eISSN: 1468-2869
Publisher: Springer-Verlag; New York
Language: English
Date published: 03/2005
Academic Unit: Public Health Administration; Injury Prevention Research Center; Public Policy Center (Archive); Community and Behavioral Health
Record Identifier: 9984063123802771

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