Psychologically Resilient, but Physically Vulnerable? Exploring the Psychosocial Determinants of African American Women’s Mental and Physical Health

Abstract

Integrating the intersectionality framework and stress theory, this study identifies the stressors and psychosocial resources contributing to the physical and psychological health status of African American women. Using the National Survey of American Life ( N = 2,077), the authors examine the relationship between stress exposures, psychological resources, and health among African American women. The results show that not all psychological resources buffered the deleterious health effects of multiple stress exposures and that the effects of stress and psychological resources differ by health domain. One important finding is that chronic stress negatively affects both mental and physical health, even after adjusting for other stress exposures and psychological resources. Traditional forms of psychological resources, such as social support, mastery, and self-esteem, do not completely ameliorate the negative effects of stress and, in some cases, amplify the negative effects of stress on health. The findings demonstrate the need to disentangle the differential impact of psychosocial factors on African American women’s health.