Implicit measurement of racial identity and coping responses to racism in African Americans

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veronica Smith ◽  
Tracie Stewart ◽  
H. Ted Denney ◽  
James Dabbs
Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 141 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
LáShauntá M Glover ◽  
Crystal N Cene ◽  
Samson Gebreab ◽  
David R Williams ◽  
James G Wilson ◽  
...  

Background: Leukocyte telomeres are biological markers of cellular aging. Shorter telomeres are associated with cardiovascular disease and reduced longevity. Psychosocial stress (e.g., perceived discrimination) is also associated with shorter telomeres, which contribute to aging-related illnesses. African Americans have a high burden of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, which may be partially explained by experiences of discrimination and their resultant effects on leukocyte telomere length (LTL). Behavioral coping responses to discrimination may alter the effects of discrimination on LTL. Objective: To investigate the associations of multiple measures of and coping responses to perceived discrimination with LTL, and determine the extent to which sex, age, and educational attainment modify these associations. Hypotheses: We hypothesize that dimensions of discrimination will be inversely associated with LTL, while coping responses will be positively associated with LTL. Additionally, there will be effect modification by sex, age, and educational attainment. Methods: Jackson Heart Study participants (21-93 years) from visit 1 (2000-2004) with LTL data were utilized (n=2518). The dimensions of discrimination (everyday, lifetime, burden of lifetime, and stress from lifetime discrimination) were categorized as low (referent), moderate, and high and scored in standard deviation (SD) units. Coping responses to everyday and lifetime discrimination were categorized as emotion-focused (e.g., ignoring discrimination) and problem-focused coping (e.g., speaking out against discrimination). Multivariable linear regression analyses were performed to estimate the mean difference (standard errors-SEs) in LTL by dimensions of discrimination and coping responses. Covariates were age, sex, education, smoking and cardiovascular disease status. Effect modification by sex, age, and educational attainment was performed. Results: Mean LTL was 7.18 (kilobase pairs) (SD: 0.69). There were no statistically significant associations between dimensions of discrimination nor coping responses and mean LTL in unadjusted and fully adjusted models. However, after full adjustment, high (vs. low) stress from lifetime discrimination was associated with lower mean LTL among those aged 35-44 (vs. <35) (b=-0.292, SE=0.09; p = 0.001). Moderate (vs. low) burden of lifetime discrimination was associated with higher mean LTL among women and participants age 35-44 (p=0.009). Additionally, moderate everyday and lifetime discrimination was associated with higher mean LTL among those with high school diplomas and college degrees (vs. <high school diploma) (b=0.104, SE=0.053; p = 0.048 and b=0.103, SE=0.053; p = 0.047 respectively). Conclusion: Experiences of discrimination may be a risk factor for shorter LTL, when considering differences in age, sex and educational attainment.


Author(s):  
Fernanda Augustini Pezzato ◽  
Alessandra Salina Brandão ◽  
Claudia Kami Bastos Oshiro

Therapeutic strategies described as effective for anxiety disorders include behavioral and cognitive-behavioral procedures of exposure and coping of aversive situations. However, considering that the behavioral pattern common in anxiety disorders is the phobic avoidance, the application of these strategies may difficult the adhesion or promote escape and avoidance of the therapeutic process. The Functional Analytic Psychotherapy is an alternative for dealing with these avoidance/escape behaviors and it can promote coping responses. This case report describes an analysis of the therapeutic relationship of a client with Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia. The intervention based on FAP was considered to help dealing with the avoidance behavior in the therapeutic process. Results show the efficacy of the procedures adopted and confirm the possibility of using FAP for improving the effectiveness of the empirically based psychotherapies.


2020 ◽  
pp. 009579842098366
Author(s):  
Yara Mekawi ◽  
Natalie N. Watson-Singleton

Though considerable empirical work has documented the ways in which African Americans are dehumanized by other racial groups, there is no research examining how perceiving dehumanization (i.e., metadehumanization) is associated with the mental health of African Americans. In this study, we examined the indirect effect of racial discrimination on depressive symptoms through metadehumanization and explored whether this indirect effect was contingent on racial identity (i.e., centrality, private regard). African American students completed measures in a university lab located in the Midwestern region of the United States ( N = 326; Mage = 19.7, 72.4% women). We found that the degree to which racial discrimination was indirectly associated with depressive symptoms through metadehumanization was contingent on racial identity dimensions. Specifically, the indirect effect of racial discrimination on depressive symptoms through metadehumanization was only significant for individuals who were relatively higher on centrality and private regard. This research suggests that the role of metadehumanization is stronger among African Americans who strongly identify with and have positive views of their racial group. We discuss these results in the context of social cognitive theories.


2021 ◽  
Vol 58 ◽  
pp. 102298
Author(s):  
Patrick Stacey ◽  
Rebecca Taylor ◽  
Omotolani Olowosule ◽  
Konstantina Spanaki

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dannii Y. Yeung ◽  
Edwin K. H. Chung ◽  
Alfred H. K. Lam ◽  
Alvin K. K. Ho

Abstract Background Middle-aged and older adults are more vulnerable to hospitalization and mortality if they are infected with the COVID-19 virus. The present study investigates the longitudinal effects of subjective successful aging on middle-aged and older adults’ emotional and coping responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, and explores an underlying mechanism through perceived time limitation during the pandemic. Methods A sample of 311 Hong Kong Chinese middle-aged and older adults (Mage = 64.58, SD = 10.14, Range = 45–90 years) were recruited from an Adult Development and Aging Project and participated in a questionnaire study via an online platform or phone interview. Their levels of subjective successful aging, perceived time limitation, and emotional and coping responses to the pandemic were measured. Results The respondents who perceived themselves as more successful in aging process reported more positive and fewer negative emotions compared with their counterparts with lower levels of subjective successful aging. The mediation analysis showed that perceived time limitation could partially account for the effects of subjective successful aging on emotional and coping responses. Conclusions Findings of this study unveil the beneficial effects of subjective views of successful aging on emotional and coping responses to the pandemic through alleviating their perception of time limitation.


Author(s):  
Francesca Falzarano ◽  
Jerad Moxley ◽  
Karl Pillemer ◽  
Sara J Czaja

Abstract Objectives The increasing number of minority older adults, and the subsequent increase in family members providing care to these individuals, highlights the need to understand how cultural values contribute to differential caregiving outcomes. Using the sociocultural stress and coping model as a guiding framework, the current study examined cross-cultural relationships among familism, social support, self-efficacy, and caregiving outcomes, and examines how these relationships vary as a function of caregiver background characteristics. Method Baseline data were collected from 243 participants in the Caring for the Caregiver Network randomized controlled intervention trial. Participants completed measures assessing familism, social support, self-efficacy, positive aspects of caregiving, depression, and burden. Results African American and Hispanic participants exhibited higher levels of familism compared to Whites. Compared to White participants, African Americans’ endorsement of familism predicted more positive caregiving appraisals. African Americans also reported greater levels of social support, which in turn, predicted lower burden and depressive symptoms as compared to Whites. Exploratory analyses demonstrated significant associations between familism and self-efficacy. In the Hispanic subgroup, familism varied as a function of acculturation. Discussion Results indicate that greater levels of familism and social support may exert a protective influence against adverse psychosocial caregiving outcomes. These findings can be used to inform intervention efforts targeting culturally congruent, family-centered approaches.


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