Year: 2016
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Objectives Past research has shown that low socioeconomic status (SES) and perceived discrimination are related to hypertension in African Americans. Past studies have used the Reserve Capacity Model (RCM; Gallo & Matthews, 2003; 2005; 2011) to understand these relationships which posits that stress can be mitigated by psychosocial resources which lead to healthy lifestyle behaviors predictive of cardiac health. However, few studies have examined the RCM resources to predict hypertension in African Americans and none have included discrimination as a stressor in the model. Methods We examined the mediational effects of RCM resources after low SES and discrimination experiences to predict health behavior (exercise) and hypertension in 1202 middle to older aged African Americans using structural equation modeling. Results Both low SES and perceived racial discrimination predicted a diagnosis of hypertension indirectly through levels of reserve capacity and exercise. Conclusions These findings provide support for the RCM as an explanatory framework for how social stressors affect health through modifiable psychosocial resources and health behaviors in middle to older aged African Americans.
Author: Taylor Draper
Language: English
Subfield: Health
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2611281491