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Article
Anxiety Mediates Perceived Discrimination and Health in African-American Women
American Journal of Health Behavior
  • Sierra E. Carter, Emory University School of Medicine
  • Rheeda L. Walker, University of Houston
  • Carolyn E. Cutrona, Iowa State University
  • Ronald L. Simons, University of Georgia
  • Steven R. H. Beach, University of Georgia
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Published Version
Publication Date
11-1-2016
DOI
10.5993/AJHB.40.6.2
Abstract

We examined the mediational role of symptoms of anxiety in accounting for the association of discrimination and chronic health conditions among African-American women. Methods: Participants were 646 African-American women who completed self-report measures of perceived racial discrimination, symptoms of anxiety, and diagnosed chronic health problems. Results: We examined the mediation hypothesis using a path analytic procedure. Mediational analyses indicated that, above and beyond symptoms of depression, age, and education status, anxiety symptoms were associated with both racial discrimination (β = .03, SE = .01, p < .001) and chronic health problems (β = .33, SE = .09, p < .001) and significantly mediated the discrimination-health association (β = -.01, SE = .01, p = .16). Conclusions: These findings highlight the potentially vital role of symptoms of anxiety in the process that occurs from an individual's perception of discrimination to reported chronic health outcomes. Future research expanding our understanding of the interconnection of psychosocial stressors, discrimination, and their biological sequelae is needed.

Comments

This article is published as Carter, Sierra E., Rheeda L. Walker, Carolyn E. Cutrona, Ronald L. Simons, and Steven RH Beach. "Anxiety Mediates Perceived Discrimination and Health in African-American Women." American journal of health behavior 40, no. 6 (2016): 697-704. doi: 10.5993/AJHB.40.6.2. Posted with permission.

Copyright Owner
PNG Publications
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Sierra E. Carter, Rheeda L. Walker, Carolyn E. Cutrona, Ronald L. Simons, et al.. "Anxiety Mediates Perceived Discrimination and Health in African-American Women" American Journal of Health Behavior Vol. 40 Iss. 6 (2016) p. 697 - 704
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/carolyn_cutrona/28/