Gender Differences in Negative Affect During Acute Tobacco Abstinence Differ Between African American and White Adult Cigarette Smokers

Abstract Introduction Prior studies have found heightened negative affect following tobacco abstinence in women compared to men. However, experimental work addressing whether these findings generalize across racial groups is scarce. This study investigated whether race (non-Hispanic White vs. non-Hispanic African American) moderated gender differences in abstinence-induced negative affect and smoking behavior. Methods Data were collected from 2010 to 2017 from two separate laboratory studies investigating experimentally manipulated tobacco abstinence. Following a baseline session, adult daily smokers (≥10 cigarettes/day; women: n = 297, 83.8% non-Hispanic African American; men: n = 492, 86.2% non-Hispanic African American) attended two counterbalanced lab sessions (16 hours abstinent vs. non-abstinent) and completed self-report measures of negative affect followed by a laboratory analogue smoking reinstatement task. Results We found a gender × race interaction for several negative affect states and composite negative affect (βs = −.12 to −.16, Ps < .05). Analyses stratified by race showed that non-Hispanic White women compared to non-Hispanic White men exhibited greater abstinence-induced increases in anger, anxiety, and composite negative affect (βs = −.20 to −.29, Ps < .05). No significant gender differences in abstinence-induced negative affect were found for non-Hispanic African American smokers (βs = .00 to − .04, Ps > .05). Conclusion These findings suggest that negative affect during acute tobacco abstinence may be a clinically important and intervenable factor that can inform cessation interventions specifically for non-Hispanic White women smokers. Further empirical exploration of mechanisms underlying interactions of gender and race in tobacco addiction may benefit smoking cessation efforts in non-Hispanic African American women smokers. Implications This study contributes to a scant body of research examining the intersectional influence of race and gender on abstinence-induced negative affect—a central, motivationally prepotent feature of tobacco withdrawal. Using a laboratory-based design to experimentally manipulate abstinence, we provide evidence of a gender × race interaction on negative affect–related withdrawal. Our findings suggest that gender differences in abstinence-induced negative affect observed among non-Hispanic White smokers may not generalize to non-Hispanic African American smokers, highlighting the need for future work to address potential mechanisms underlying the racially discrepant impact of gender on affective tobacco withdrawal.

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Determinants of Mammographic Breast Density by Race Among a Large Screening Population

JNCI Cancer Spectrum ◽

10.1093/jncics/pkaa010 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Justin Xavier Moore ◽

Yunan Han ◽

Catherine Appleton ◽

Graham Colditz ◽

Adetunji T Toriola

Keyword(s):

African American ◽

African American Women ◽

Breast Density ◽

White Women ◽

Menopausal Status ◽

Dense Breast ◽

Mammographic Breast Density ◽

Age At First Birth ◽

American Women ◽

Hispanic White

Abstract BACKGROUND Due to mixed reports from smaller studies, we examined associations of race with mammographic breast density and evaluated racial differences in the determinants of breast density. METHODS Participants included 37,839 women (23,166 non-Hispanic White, and 14,673 African American women) receiving screening mammograms at the Joanne Knight Breast Health Center at Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri from June 2010 to December 2015. Mammographic breast density was assessed using Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (5th edition). To determine the association of race and participant characteristics with mammographic breast density, we used multivariable polytomous logistic regression models (reference group: almost entirely fatty). RESULTS African American women had increased odds of extremely dense (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.13–1.52) and reduced odds of heterogeneously dense breasts (AOR= 0.91, 95% CI = 0.84 – 0.99) compared to non-Hispanic White women. Altogether, race, parity and age at first birth, age, current body mass index (BMI), BMI at age 18, menarche, family history of breast cancer, oral contraceptive use, alcohol, and menopausal status explained 33% of the variation in mammographic breast density. Among African American and non-Hispanic White women these factors explained nearly 28.6% and 33.6% of the variation in mammographic density, respectively. Current BMI provided the greatest explanation of breast density (26.2% overall, 22.2% in African American, and 26.2% in non-Hispanic White women). CONCLUSIONS The determinants of mammographic breast density were generally similar between African-American women and non-Hispanic white women. After adjustments for confounders, African Americans had higher likelihood of extremely dense breast but lower likelihood of heterogeneously dense breast. The greatest explanation of breast density was provided by BMI, regardless of race.

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Urban vs Rural Residence and the Prevalence of Depression and Mood Disorder Among African American Women and Non-Hispanic White Women

JAMA Psychiatry ◽

10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2015.10 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 72 (6) ◽

pp. 576 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Addie Weaver ◽

Joseph A. Himle ◽

Robert Joseph Taylor ◽

Niki N. Matusko ◽

Jamie M. Abelson

Keyword(s):

African American ◽

Mood Disorder ◽

African American Women ◽

White Women ◽

Rural Residence ◽

American Women ◽

Prevalence Of Depression ◽

Hispanic White

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Racial Differences in Weight Loss Mediated by Engagement and Behavior Change

Ethnicity & Disease ◽

10.18865/ed.28.1.43 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

pp. 43 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Loneke T. Blackman Carr ◽

Carmen Samuel-Hodge ◽

Dianne Stanton Ward ◽

Kelly R. Evenson ◽

Shrikant I. Bangdiwala ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Weight Loss ◽

African American ◽

African American Women ◽

Racial Differences ◽

White Women ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Face To Face ◽

Weight Control Behaviors ◽

Group Sessions ◽

Hispanic White

Objective: We set out to determine if a primarily Internet-delivered behavioral weight loss intervention produced differential weight loss in African American and non-Hispanic White women, and to identify possible mediators.Design: Data for this analysis were from a randomized controlled trial, collected at baseline and 4-months.Setting: The intervention included monthly face-to-face group sessions and an Internet component that participants were recommended to use at least once weekly.Participants: We included overweight or obese African American and non-Hispanic White women (n=170), with at least weekly Internet access, who were able to attend group sessions.Intervention: Monthly face-to-face group sessions were delivered in large or small groups. The Internet component included automated tailored feedback, self-monitoring tools, written lessons, video resources, problem solving, exercise action planning tools, and social support through message boards.Main outcome measure: Multiple linear regression was used to evaluate race group differences in weight change.Results: Non-Hispanic White women lost more weight than African American women (-5.03% vs.-2.39%, P=.0002). Greater website log-ins and higher change in Eating Behavior Inventory score in non-Hispanic White women partially mediated the race-weight loss relationship.Conclusions: The weight loss disparity may be addressed through improved website engagement and adoption of weight control behaviors. Ethn Dis. 2018;28(1):43-48; doi:10.18865/ed.28.1.43.

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Racial, ethnic, and gender diversity of applicants and matriculants to neurological surgery residency programs

Journal of Neurosurgery ◽

10.3171/2021.7.jns21906 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Edwin Nieblas-Bedolla ◽

Fatima El-ghazali ◽

Saman Qadri ◽

John R. Williams ◽

Nabiha Quadri ◽

...

Keyword(s):

African American ◽

African American Women ◽

White Women ◽

African American Men ◽

White Men ◽

Residency Programs ◽

Asian Men ◽

And Gender ◽

Neurological Surgery ◽

Ethnicity And Gender

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to identify trends in the demographic constitution of applicants and matriculants to neurological surgery based on race, ethnicity, and gender. METHODS The authors conducted a cross-sectional study using compiled demographic data obtained from the Association of American Medical Colleges. Trends analyzed included proportional changes in race, ethnicity, and gender of applicants and matriculants to neurosurgical residency programs from academic years 2010–2011 to 2018–2019. RESULTS A total of 5100 applicants and 2104 matriculants to neurosurgical residency programs were analyzed. No significant change in the percentage of overall women applicants (+0.3%, 95% CI −0.7% to 1.3%; p = 0.77) or in the percentage of women matriculants (+0.3%, 95% CI −2.2% to 2.9%; p = 0.71) was observed. For applicants, no change over time was observed in the percentages of American Indian or Alaska Native (AI/AN) men (0.0%, 95% CI −0.3% to 0.3%; p = 0.65); Asian men (−0.1%, 95% CI −1.2% to 1.1%; p = 0.97); Black or African American men (−0.2%, 95% CI −0.7% to 0.4%; p = 0.91); Hispanic, Latino, or of Spanish Origin men (+0.4%, 95% CI −0.8% to 1.7%; p = 0.26); White men (+0.5%, 95% CI −2.1% to 3.0%; p = 0.27); Asian women (+0.1,% 95% CI −0.9% to 1.1%; p = 0.73); Black or African American women (0.0%, 95% CI −0.6% to 0.5%; p = 0.30); Hispanic, Latino, or of Spanish Origin women (0.0%, 95% CI −0.4% to 0.4%; p = 0.71); and White women (+0.3%, 95% CI −1.1% to 1.7%; p = 0.34). For matriculants, no change over time was observed in the percentages of AI/AN men (0.0%, 95% CI −0.6% to 0.6%; p = 0.56); Asian men (0.0%, 95% CI −2.7% to 2.7%; p = 0.45); Black or African American men (−0.3%, 95% CI −1.4% to 0.8%; p = 0.52); Hispanic, Latino, or of Spanish Origin men (+0.6%, 95% CI −0.8 to 2.0%; p = 0.12); White men (−1.0%, 95% CI −5.3% to 3.3%; p = 0.92); Asian women (+0.1%, 95% CI −1.3% to 1.5%; p = 0.85); Black or African American women (0.0%, 95% CI −0.6% to 0.7%; p = 0.38); Hispanic, Latino, or of Spanish Origin women (−0.1%, 95% CI −0.7% to 0.5%; p = 0.46); and White women (+0.3%, 95% CI −2.4% to 3.0%; p = 0.70). CONCLUSIONS Despite efforts to diversify the demographic constitution of incoming neurosurgical trainees, few significant advances have been made in recent years. This study suggests that improved strategies for recruitment and cultivating early interest in neurological surgery are required to further increase the diversification of future cohorts of neurosurgical trainees.

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Racial Disparities in Disability Among Older Adults

Journal of Aging and Health ◽

10.1177/0898264314534892 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 26 (8) ◽

pp. 1261-1279 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Roland J. Thorpe ◽

Rachael McCleary ◽

Jenny R. Smolen ◽

Keith E. Whitfield ◽

Eleanor M. Simonsick ◽

...

Keyword(s):

African American ◽

Health Disparities ◽

Racial Disparities ◽

African American Women ◽

Racial Differences ◽

Low Income ◽

White Women ◽

African American Men ◽

Urban Sample ◽

Functional Advantage

Objective: Persistent and consistently observed racial disparities in physical functioning likely stem from racial differences in social resources and environmental conditions. Method: We examined the association between race and reported difficulty performing instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) in 347 African American (45.5%) and Whites aged 50 or above in the Exploring Health Disparities in Integrated Communities–Southwest Baltimore, Maryland Study (EHDIC-SWB). Results: Contrary to previous studies, African Americans had lower rates of disability (women: 25.6% vs. 44.6%, p = .006; men: 15.7% vs. 32.9%; p = .017) than Whites. After adjusting for sociodemographics, health behaviors, and comorbidities, African American women (odds ratio [OR] = 0.32, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.14, 0.70]) and African American men (OR = 0.34, 95% CI = [0.13, 0.90]) retained their functional advantage compared with White women and men, respectively. Conclusion: These findings within an integrated, low-income urban sample support efforts to ameliorate health disparities by focusing on the social context in which people live.

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Residential Location and the Earnings of African American Women

The Review of Black Political Economy ◽

10.1007/bf02689994 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 23 (3) ◽

pp. 103-111 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Emily Hoffnar ◽

Michael Greene

Keyword(s):

Socioeconomic Status ◽

African American ◽

African American Women ◽

White Women ◽

African American Men ◽

Central City ◽

Residential Location ◽

White Men ◽

Reference Groups ◽

American Women

In comparing the earnings of African American women to three reference groups—white women, African American men, and white men—three principal findings emerge. First, African American women residing in the suburbs are worse off than any other suburban group. Second, central city African American women are worse off than any other group of central city residents. Third, while central city residence imposes a statistically significant earnings penalty on men of both races, no such penalty is found for African American or white women. Therefore, African American women will enjoy no earnings advantage if they move to the suburbs. This finding underscores the importance of including women in studies of residential location and the socioeconomic status of African Americans. A narrow focus on male data to inform policy is clearly insufficient.

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Abstract P080: Self-reported Experiences of Everyday Discrimination are Associated With Shorter Leukocyte Telomeres in African-American Women With Coronary Heart Disease

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.135.suppl_1.p080 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 135 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Samaah Sullivan ◽

Viola Vaccarino ◽

Muhammad Hammadah ◽

Ibhar Al Mheid ◽

Kobina Wilmot ◽

...

Keyword(s):

African American ◽

African American Women ◽

Telomere Length ◽

White Women ◽

African American Men ◽

White Men ◽

Cellular Aging ◽

Telomere Shortening ◽

American Women ◽

And Gender

Rationale: Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is an indicator of biological aging. Telomere shortening may be sensitive to social stressors such as discrimination, but this has not been previously examined in a biracial cohort of patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Objective: To explore differences in LTL by race and gender and examine whether discrimination was associated with accelerated cellular aging (shorter telomere length). Methods: Data were from 367 White and African American patients in the Mental Stress Ischemia Mechanisms and Prognosis Study (MIPS) which enrolled patients with a diagnosis of stable CHD from Emory University-affiliated hospitals and clinics. LTL was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and expressed as a ratio of the amount of telomeric DNA to the amount of single-copy control gene (T/S). The T/S ratios were then converted to kilobase pairs. Discrimination was measured using the 10-item Everyday Discrimination Scale (EDS), where participants reported their experiences of everyday mistreatment during the previous 12 months. Responses were rated using 4-point Likert scales ranging from never = 1 to often = 4 which were summed. Due to the potential batch effect in telomere length, we modeled telomere plate as a random effect. Multiple linear regression models were stratified by race/ethnicity and gender to estimate differences in mean LTL and associations with discrimination, adjusted for potential confounding factors. Results: African American women had longer mean LTL (5.58; SD: 0.05) compared to African American men (5.28; SD: 0.04), White women (5.22; SD: 0.05) and White men (5.24; SD: 0.03). Reports of discrimination were higher among African American men (16.1; SD: 6.5) compared to African American women (15.4; SD: 4.9), White women (14.9; SD: 4.4), and White men (13.5; SD: 3.8). The association between discrimination and accelerated cellular aging was statistically significant among African American women [β = -0.02; 95% CI: (-0.04, -0.001); p=0.0377] after models were adjusted for demographics, smoking history, BMI, and disease history. Discrimination was not significantly associated with accelerated cellular aging among African American men [β = -0.01; 95% CI: (-0.02, 0.01)], White men β = [-0.003; 95% CI: (-0.02, 0.01)], or White women [β = -0.01; 95% CI: (-0.03, 0.01)]. The association between discrimination and accelerated cellular aging remained statistically significant for African American women after further adjusting for depression and perceived stress. Conclusions: Although African American women with CHD have longer telomere length, they may experience greater telomere shortening in relation to discrimination. Accelerated telomere shortening secondary to discrimination stress may be a potential mechanism of health related disparities among African American women with CHD.

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African American Unemployment and the Disparity in Periviable Births

Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities ◽

10.1007/s40615-021-01022-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ralph Catalano ◽

Deborah Karasek ◽

Tim Bruckner ◽

Joan A. Casey ◽

Katherine Saxton ◽

...

Keyword(s):

African American ◽

African American Women ◽

Unemployment Rate ◽

Racial Disparity ◽

Live Births ◽

Percentage Point Increase ◽

Point Increase ◽

The Us ◽

Race Ethnicity ◽

Hispanic White

AbstractPeriviable infants (i.e., born before 26 complete weeks of gestation) represent fewer than .5% of births in the US but account for 40% of infant mortality and 20% of billed hospital obstetric costs. African American women contribute about 14% of live births in the US, but these include nearly a third of the country’s periviable births. Consistent with theory and with periviable births among other race/ethnicity groups, males predominate among African American periviable births in stressed populations. We test the hypothesis that the disparity in periviable male births among African American and non-Hispanic white populations responds to the African American unemployment rate because that indicator not only traces, but also contributes to, the prevalence of stress in the population. We use time-series methods that control for autocorrelation including secular trends, seasonality, and the tendency to remain elevated or depressed after high or low values. The racial disparity in male periviable birth increases by 4.45% for each percentage point increase in the unemployment rate of African Americans above its expected value. We infer that unemployment—a population stressor over which our institutions exercise considerable control—affects the disparity between African American and non-Hispanic white periviable births in the US.

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Investigating Racial Differences among Men in COVID-19 Diagnosis and Related Psychosocial and Behavioral Factors: Data from the Michigan Men’s Health Event

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18063284 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (6) ◽

pp. 3284

Author(s):

Jaclynn Hawkins ◽

Karen Gilcher ◽

Claudia Schwenzer ◽

Michael Lutz

Keyword(s):

African American ◽

Racial Differences ◽

African American Men ◽

White Men ◽

Adverse Impact ◽

Medical Issues ◽

Stress Levels ◽

Health Event ◽

Chi Square Analysis ◽

Hispanic White

Extant research is growing in its ability to explain sex differences in novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) diagnosis and mortality. Moving beyond comparisons based on biological sex is now warranted to capture a more nuanced picture of disparities in COVID-19 diagnosis and mortality specifically among men who are more likely to die of the illness. The objective of this study was to investigate racial disparities in COVID-19-related psychosocial, behavior and health variables among men. The present study utilizes a sample of 824 men who participated in a free health event held in a Midwestern state. Chi-square analysis showed that African American men were more likely to report an adverse impact of COVID-19 based on several factors including experiencing more COVID-19-related medical issues (χ2 = 4.60 p = 0.03); higher COVID-19 diagnosis (χ2 = 4.60 p = 0.02); trouble paying for food (χ2 = 8.47, p = 0.00), rent (χ2 = 12.26, p = 0.00), medication (χ2 = 7.10 p = 0.01) and utility bills (χ2 = 19.68, p = 0.00); higher fear of contracting COVID-19 (χ2 = 31.19, p = 0.00); and higher rates of death of close friends and family due to COVID (χ2 = 48.85, p = 0.00). Non-Hispanic white men reported more increased stress levels due to COVID-19 compared to African American men (χ2 = 10.21, p = 0.01). Regression analysis showed that race was a significant predictor of self-reported COVID-19 diagnosis (OR = 2.56, p < 0.05) after controlling for demographic characteristics. The results showed that compared to non-Hispanic White men, African American men were more likely to report an adverse impact of COVID-19 based on several factors including experiencing more COVID-19-related medical issues; higher COVID-19 diagnosis; trouble paying for food, rent, medication and utility bills; higher fear of contracting COVID-19; and higher rates of death of close friends and family due to COVID. Interestingly, non-Hispanic white men reported more increased stress levels due to COVID-19 compared to African American men.

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Sociodemographic Influences in the Prediction of Attitudes toward Transracial Adoption

Families in Society The Journal of Contemporary Social Services ◽

10.1606/1044-3894.1097 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 81 (1) ◽

pp. 92-100 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Leslie Doty Hollingsworth

Keyword(s):

African American ◽

African American Women ◽

African American Men ◽

Policy Research ◽

Transracial Adoption ◽

Opinion Survey ◽

Research And Practice ◽

Caucasian Men ◽

Using Data ◽

Age Category

An exploratory study of attitudes toward transracial adoption was conducted, using data from a 1991 national telephone opinion survey of 916 respondents. Seventy-one percent of those surveyed believed that race should not be a factor in who should be allowed to adopt a child. However, in a logistic regression analysis, respondents in the highest age category (i.e., those older than 64 years) were 63% less likely to approve of transracial adoption, compared with 18- to 29-year-olds. There was also an interaction of race and sex. African-American women were 84% less likely than African-American men to approve of transracial adoption. Compared with African-American men, Caucasian men were 72% less likely to approve. The importance of considering subpopulation differences in applying such findings to adoption policy, research, and practice is discussed.

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