Rodney Clark

Perceptions of interethnic group racism predict increased vascular reactivity to a laboratory challenge in college women.

African-Americans have disproportionately higher rates of hypertension than any other U.S. ethnic group. Researchers have postulated that the psychosocial-stress association with racism may help explain these higher rates in African-Americans, as well as blood pressure variability among African-Americans. Using a quasi-experimental design, this study examined the relationship between perceived interethnic group racism (racism) and blood pressure responses in 39 African-American females. Measurements of blood pressure were obtained before, during, and after a laboratory challenge where participants spoke about their personal views and feelings concerning animal rights. Perceptions of racism, as well as psychological and coping responses to racism, were assessed via the Perceived Racism Scale. The results revealed that on average, participants perceived racism 75.25 times/year. Racist statements were perceived most often, and speaking up was the most frequently reported coping response. The overwhelming majority of participants (76.47%) used active and passive coping responses to deal with racism. Among the psychological responses to racism, the magnitude of emotional responding was greatest for anger. Multivariate regression analyses indicated that perceived racism was significantly and positively related to diastolic blood pressure changes during the speech (p=.01), early recovery (p<.003), and late recovery (p=.01) periods. Potential confounders did not mitigate these effects. The findings highlight the importance of delineating the role of more real-world behavioral challenges in future research exploring blood pressure variability and hypertension risk in African-Americans.

Sociodemographic diversity and behavioral medicine.

The broad array of economic and cultural diversity in the U.S. population correlates with and impacts on the study of behavioral aspects of health. The purpose of this article was to provide a selective overview of behavioral medicine research on sociodemographically diverse populations, with a focus on ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic status. Suggestions are provided with regard to methodological refinement of research and insights into possible future directions in behavioral medicine research on ethnically and economically diverse populations.

Self-reported racism and social support predict blood pressure reactivity in blacks

This study explored the effects of perceived racism and social support (quantity and quality) on blood pressure reactivity. In a college sample of 64 Blacks (M age = 22.69 years, SD = 6.60), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were assessed before and during a standardized serial subtraction task. Perceptions of racism and the quantity and quality of social support were measured by self- report. Separate multiple regression analyses revealed that perceived racism and social support (neither quantity nor quality) were not independent predictors of SBP or DBP changes (ps > .05). These analyses did indicate that perceived racism interacted with the quantity of social support (p < .002, partial R2 = .175) and with the quality of social support (p < .0007, partial R2 = .195) to predict DBP changes. Perceived racism also interacted with the quantity of social support to predict changes in SBP (p < .02, partial R2 = .11). In general, whereas high social support was related to less marked blood pressure changes under conditions of low perceived racism, high social support was associated with exaggerated blood pressure changes under conditions of high perceived racism. These significant interaction effects persisted after statistically controlling for potential confounders. The findings highlight the importance of examining the joint contribution of real- world experiences and coping resources to blood pressure reactivity in Blacks.

Perceived racism and vascular reactivity in black college women: moderating effects of seeking social support.

This quasi-experimental study explored the association of perceived racism and seeking social support to vascular reactivity in a college sample of 110 Black women. Perceived racism and seeking social support were assessed via self-report, and vascular reactivity was measured before and during a standardized speaking task. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that perceived racism was positively related to changes in systolic blood pressure. These analyses also indicated that seeking social support moderated the relationship between perceived racism and systolic blood pressure changes. This interaction effect persisted after controlling for several potential confounders. Follow-up regression analyses showed that perceived racism was positively associated with reactivity among participants who were low in seeking social support. A significant relationship was not observed between perceived racism and systolic blood pressure changes among participants who were high in seeking social support. Perceived racism and seeking social support were not significantly associated with changes in diastolic blood pressure. These findings highlight the importance of examining psychosocial factors that may mitigate the hypothesized relationship between perceived racism and reactivity.

Interethnic Group and Intraethnic Group Racism: Perceptions and Coping in Black University Students.

This study explored perceived racism and the usual ways of coping with these perceptions in a sample of 269 Black university students (53% female). Perceptions of inter- and intragroup racism were assessed with the Life Experiences and Stress scale, and coping was measured with the Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced scale. A principal component analysis suggested that inter- and intragroup racism were separable constructs. Correlation analyses revealed that inter- and intragroup racism were negatively associated with self-deception.Relative to females, t-test analyses indicated that males perceived more inter- and intragroup racism. The t-test analyses also revealed that females were more likely than males to use emotion-focused and religious coping responses, when negotiating perceptions of inter- and intragroup racism; and, when negotiating perceptions of intragroup racism, males were more likely than females to use alcohol as a coping response. The limitations of the study and directions for future research are discussed.

Interactive but not direct effects of perceived racism and trait anger predict resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure in black adolescents.

This correlation study explicated the association of perceived racism and trait anger to resting blood pressure in a high school sample of 234 Blacks. Perceived racism and trait anger were assessed via self-report, and resting blood pressure was measured with a noninvasive blood pressure monitor. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that perceived racism and trait anger were not independent predictors of systolic or diastolic blood pressure. However, these analyses revealed that the interactive effects of perceived racism and trait anger were predictive of systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Although perceived racism was not significantly related to blood pressure among those who were high in trait anger, perceived racism was inversely associated with blood pressure among those who were low in trait anger. The findings may have important longer term implications for future research examining the contribution of psychosocial factors to cardiac and vascular functioning in Blacks.

Subjective Stress and Coping Resources Interact To Predict Blood Pressure Reactivity in Black College Students.

This study examined the effects of subjective stress and coping resources on blood pressure reactivity. Sixty-nine Black college students (mean age = 23.58 years) completed the Life Experiences and Stress Scale to explore the subjective stressfulness associated with life events, the Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced Scale to measure usual ways of coping, and a standardized serial addition laboratory challenge during which blood pressure was assessed. Multiple regression analyses revealed that the interactive effects of subjective stress and coping resources predicted diastolic blood pressure reactivity (both p < .025) but not systolic blood pressure reactivity (both p > .10). These significant interaction effects indicated that higher levels of problem-focused coping were related to more marked diastolic blood pressure changes under conditions of high subjective stress and that emotion-focused coping was associated with less exaggerated diastolic blood pressure changes under conditions of low subjective stress. These findings highlight the potential contribution of psychosocial factors to blood pressure reactivity in Blacks.

Youth and Parental Correlates of Externalizing Symptoms, Adaptive Functioning, and Academic Performance: An Exploratory Study in Preadolescent Blacks:

The effects of youth and parenting factors on school functioning were assessed in a preadolescent sample of 70 Blacks. Attitudes about deviance and types of peer associations were reported by youth, and perceived achievement control and hostile control were provided by parents. Additional information about academic performance, adaptive functioning, and externalizing symptoms was recounted by teachers. Multiple regression analyses indicated that hostile control was positively related to delinquency symptoms and that achievement control was negatively associated with academic performance. These analyses also revealed that the modeling of negative behaviors by friends was positively related to aggression and delinquency symptoms and that perceptions of academic competence were positively associated with adaptive functioning and academic performance. Although replication of the current findings is clearly needed, the findings highlight the mutual influences of parental and youth factors to academic adjustments in Black youth.

Preliminary study examining relationship between family environment and resting mean arterial pressure in African-American youth

This investigation examined the relationship between family environment and mean arterial pressure in a sample of African-American youth. Completed data were collected from 46 adolescents attending an inner-city junior high school. Blood pressure measurements were assessed in a seated position with a Dinamap 1846 Vital Signs Monitor. To assess the additive effects associated with the family environment, a composite risk score (cohesion, conflict, control, and organization subscales of the Family Environment Scale) was computed. Regression analyses indicated that the cumulative risk associated with the family environment was predictive of resting mean arterial pressure.

Health-promoting and health-compromising behaviors among minority adolescents.

book would seem less successful. However, this is not meant to detract from the useful review of research studies, although I was hoping to find substantially more than this. Those working outside North America or Germany (myself included) will be disappointed that very little attempt was made to incorporate results from other cultures. A few Australian and British studies are cited, but findings from other cultures are largely ignored. I think the book’s usefulness would have been greatly enhanced had other European, South American or Asian data been reported where at all possible.