Health Of African American Women Research Articles

Financial Distress and Depressive Symptoms among African American Women: Identifying Financial Priorities and Needs and why it Matters for Mental Health

Prior research found that financial hardship or distress is one of the most important underlying factors for depression/depressive symptoms, yet factors that contribute to financial distress remain unexplored or unaddressed. Given this, the goals of the present study were (1) to examine the relationship between perceived financial distress and depressive symptoms, and (2) to identify financial priorities and needs that may contribute to financial distress. Surveys from 111 African American women, ages 18-44, who reside in Allegheny County, PA, were used to gather demographic information and measures of depressive symptoms and financial distress/financial well-being. Correlation and regression analyses revealed that perceived financial distress was significantly associated with levels of depressive symptoms. To assess financial priorities and needs, responses to two open-ended questions were analyzed and coded for common themes: "Imagine you won a $10,000 prize in a local lottery. What would you do with this money?" and "What kinds of programs or other help would be beneficial to you during times of financial difficulties?" The highest five priorities identified by the participants were paying bills and debt, saving, purchasing a home or making home repairs, and/or helping others. The participant's perceived needs during times of financial difficulty included tangible assistance and/or financial education. The findings from this study can be used to create new and/or enhance existing programs, services, and/or interventions that focus on the identified financial priorities and needs. Collaborative efforts among professionals in different disciplines are also needed, as ways to manage and alleviate financial distress should be considered and discussed when addressing the mental health of African American women.

Health Beliefs of African American Women on Breast Self-Exam

PurposeInvestigate the relationship between African American women's health beliefs in regard to breast cancer screening behaviors. Data sourcesA sample of 131 African American women, age 20–65, from a family practice clinic and 3 rural churches in Southeast. ConclusionsOne-hundred and nine of the participants reported practicing breast self-exam (BSE) within the past 12 months. However, 21 women had never practiced BSE. Fear of not doing it correctly was a main barrier. Implication for practiceSteps should be taken to increase confidence and resolve barriers of African American women through the development of culturally sensitive educational training on BSE and cancer prevention.

The Affordable Care Act and Its Potential to Improve the Health of African-American Women

A complex set of historical and contemporary factors (such as racism, poverty and segregation) shape the life experiences, and health outcomes of African-American women. Their place in society and literally the places where they live both determine their health. This article considers whether the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PL. 111–148), as amended, signed into law by President Obama on March 30, 2010, can become a viable tool to help address the health needs of African-American women.

Pleasing the Masses: Messages for Daily Life Management in African American Women's Popular Media Sources

Using African American women's insights on their own health experiences, we explored how their daily life management was linked to the "strong Black woman" (SBW) script, and the health implications of that script. Using the search term "strong Black woman," we identified 20 articles from African American women's magazines and 10 blog sites linked to the SBW script and analyzed their content. We created thematic categories (role management, coping, and self-care) and extracted issues relevant to African American women's health. Adherence to the SBW script was linked to women's daily life management and health experiences. Themes such as self-sacrificial role management ("please the masses"), emotional suppression ("game face"), and postponement of self-care ("last on the list") incited internal distress and evinced negative health consequences. Scientists, activists, and health care professionals would be aided in forming initiatives aimed at reducing health disparities among African American women by heeding the insights on their health experiences that they express in popular media sources.

Exploring Weathering: Effects of Lifelong Economic Environment and Maternal Age on Low Birth Weight, Small for Gestational Age, and Preterm Birth in African-American and White Women

There is a black-white disparity in birth outcomes. The risk of a low birth weight (LBW) infant and infant death is about twice more likely among African-American women than among non-Hispanic white women. Several studies have demonstrated worsening birth outcomes with increasing maternal age in African-American women; this phenomenon has been referred to as Some investigators have suggested that weathering may result from the cumulative effect of socioeconomic disadvantages on the health of African-American women. Prior studies reported more frequent occurrence of weathering among African-American mothers living in low-income neighborhoods during pregnancy, even after adjustment for maternal health characteristics. There are little data on the effect of early life environment on weathering. The present study tested the hypothesis that African-American women who had never been exposed to poverty in low-income areas would not experience weathering, and that white women exposed to poverty throughout their life would show evidence of weathering. Data obtained from a transgenerational birth file for 2 generations of birth outcomes were linked to economic data from the census. The birth outcomes examined were LBW, small for gestational age (SGA), and preterm birth (PTB). The data showed that African-American women born in poorer neighborhoods and still poor as mothers had significant weathering with respect to LBW and SGA, but not PTB. Unlike African-American women, white women showed no evidence of weathering with respect to LBW, SGA, or PTB, even those with lifetime exposure to poorer neighborhoods. The findings demonstrate that the extent of weathering in African-American women is related to the length of exposure to low-income neighborhoods and that weathering does not occur in white women of any income status. The data suggest that improving the economic environment of pregnant African-American women can improve their birth outcomes with increasing maternal age.

Family violence exposure and health outcomes among older African American women: do spirituality and social support play protective roles?

Family violence (FV), spirituality, and social support are salient psychosocial determinants of health. FV is associated with poor health among older African American women. The effect of spirituality and social support levels on the health of older African American women is unknown. To assess the role of spirituality and social support as culturally relevant determinants of health status for older African American women independent of FV levels, we used a cross-sectional observational study. Two hundred twelve African American women, aged ≥ 50, were interviewed in two urban primary care practices. The measures used were (1) Family Violence Against Older Women (FVOW) scale, (2) Physical and Mental Composite Scores of the Short-Form 8® scale, (3) Medical Outcomes of Social Support survey (MOSS), and (4) Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWBS). Spearman correlation coefficients estimated to test associations among lifetime FV exposure, spirituality, social support, and health status outcomes and multivariate regression models were used to examine the independent effect of spirituality and social support on physical and mental health status, controlling for FV and significant demographic variables. Mean participant age was 63.9 years. Higher spirituality levels were significantly associated with better physical health status after adjusting for FV levels and demographic factors (F = 6.17, p = 0.0001). Similarly, higher levels of spirituality and social support both significantly correlated with better mental health status in the multivariate model (F = 13.45, p < 0.0001) that controlled for lifetime FV levels and demographic factors. Spirituality and social support are two potentially modifiable determinants of health for older African American women. Culturally appropriate mechanisms to enhance social support and spirituality levels need to be explored as potential inteventions to improve the health of those African American women who have been exposed to FV.

Preliminary Outcomes of a Model Program for Increasing Treatment Access for African American Women Who Use Crack Cocaine and Are at Risk for Contracting HIV

In the United States, the threat of HIV/AIDS to African American women's health has become the focus of much concern. This paper describes a federally funded community-based program that provides services to African American women at risk for HIV/AIDS in Nashville, Tennessee. The program provides a culturally relevant set of interventions specific to crack cocaine users aimed at reducing substance use and HIV/AIDS risk behaviors. The model is important for the continued development of culturally relevant interventions aimed at reducing the disproportionate rates of HIV/AIDS within the African American community by ensuring treatment access to all populations.

Cultural Images and the Health of African American Women

Cultural Images and the Health of African American Women

Discriminatory Experiences and Depressive Symptoms among African American Women: Do Skin Tone and Mastery Matter?

We apply structural equation modeling techniques to data from the National Survey of American Life to investigate the relationship between perceived discrimination and depressive symptoms among African American women ages 18-98 years (N=2,299). In addition, we evaluate whether or not personal mastery accounts for the intensity of African American women's psychological response to discrimination and whether or not exposure to discrimination varies by skin complexion. Findings reveal that discrimination is a major threat to African American women's mental health. They are vulnerable to discrimination, in part, because discrimination undermines their beliefs in mastery making them less psychologically resilient. Experiences of discrimination do not differ by complexion. We conclude that complexion does not matter, but mastery does.

The mediating role of social support in the community environment—psychological distress link among low‐income African American women

AbstractLiving in a disordered community is negatively associated with psychological well‐being. We investigated the role of social support in the link between community environment and psychological distress in a sample of 152 African American women from low socioeconomic backgrounds in a large metropolitan southeastern city. Structural equation modeling revealed that the association between low quality of community environment and increased psychological distress was accounted for by the mediating role of social support. Findings suggest the importance of social support in improving the mental health of African American women from low socioeconomic backgrounds. Because social support is affected by the environment in which women live, interventions should be community‐focused. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Stress of Caring for Children: The Role of Perceived Racism

Regardless of race, most mothers experience stress related to concerns about their children. African American mothers may experience the additional stress of their child (ren) experiencing racism. We describe the stress that African American women have about their children experiencing racism. The Telephone-Administered Perceived Racism Scale (TPRS) was administered to 476 African American women ages 36 to 53 who were members of a prepaid health plan. The 8-item Concern for Children scale, 1 of the 5 TPRS scales, was completed by 382 women and assessed the level of concern women have about their children experiencing racism. The responses ranged from "not at all concerned" to "very concerned." For 6 of the 8 items, more than 60% reported being "very concerned" for their children. Items of highest concern involved institutionalized racism with more than 70% reported being very concerned about their children being harmed or harassed by the police or getting stopped in a predominantly white neighborhood. Respondents were less concerned about their children being considered less attractive than their white counterparts and/or being excluded from social events, activities, or groups. Level of concern was not related to income or education. Unsurprisingly, respondents who reported high levels of perceived racism also reported greater concern for their child(ren). These findings highlight an additional stressor related to childrearing in a "race-conscious" society. Future research on stress and African American women's health should include this additional stressor.

Culturally specific dance to reduce obesity in African American women.

This article provides evidence of a culturally specific dance intervention to decrease obesity as measured by body fat and body mass index (BMI) in African American women. A community partnership was formed with two African American churches to develop an intervention to address the issue of obesity. The culturally specific dance intervention was delivered two times per week for 8 weeks, choreographed to gospel music selected by the experimental group participants, and taught by an African American woman. Body fat and BMI were assessed at three time points and revealed significant differences between the two groups. Attending a minimum of 7 classes was enough to show an observed dose effect and the intervention was found to be culturally specific by understanding their roles as African American women. This community partnership was an effective way to promote a church-based, culturally specific dance intervention to improve the health of African American women.

Our Men Are Grinding Out: A Qualitative Examination of Sex Ratio Imbalances, Relationship Power, and Low-Income African American Women's Health

ABSTRACT In the United States, the number of HIV/AIDS cases among women of color is increasing, with African American women now comprising 60% of all female AIDS cases. Scholars have attributed this imbalance to social factors. The aim of this study was to explore the impact that relationship power has on heterosexual women's ability to practice safer sex. Five focus groups were conducted with 24 African American women, aged 18–57 years, residing in public housing in rural North Carolina over a six-month period in 2000. Findings suggest that women maintain their independence, despite inequities in relationship power and remain strong to make a better life for their families. Recommendations are made to promote and build upon this social identity that women have in order to help them practice healthier behaviors.

Pushing Poverty to the Periphery: HIV‐Positive African American Women's Health Needs, the Ryan White Care Act, and a Political Economy of Service Provision

This article examines the structural conditions and daily life circumstances faced by low‐income African American women living with HIV/AIDS. The author draws upon 10 months of participant‐observation and interviews among AIDS service organizations in Denver, Colorado, and the African American women they served to consider the ways in which structurally produced material deprivation and social inequality impinge upon study participants' abilities to attend to HIV‐related health needs. Pivotal to this analysis is an historically based and ethnographically grounded discussion of how macro‐level reform measures complicate the experience and provision of health care for poor and HIV‐positive African American women.

A Model Program for Increasing Treatment Access for African American Women Who Use Crack Cocaine and Are at Risk of Contracting HIV

ABSTRACT In the United States, the threat of HIV/AIDS to African-American women's health has become the focus of much concern. This article describes a federally funded community-based program that provides services to African-American women at risk for HIV/AIDS in Nashville, TN. This program provides a culturally relevant set of interventions specific to crack cocaine users aimed at reducing substance use and HIV/AIDS risk behaviors. The model is important to the continued development of culturally relevant interventions that are vital to stemming the disproportionate rates of HIV/AIDS within the African-American community by ensuring treatment access to all populations.

Stress and Stress Reduction among African American Women: A Brief Report

This brief report looks at the impact of discrimination, poverty and daily hassles on the stress and the subsequent health of African American women. Using this contextual framework, an Africentric, female-centered stress reduction program is presented to address the specific needs of this population. Thirty-three African American women between the ages of 22 and 63 participated in either an 8-h pilot of the proposed Africentric program or a 7-h standard stress reduction intervention. Descriptions of both interventions are presented. Implications for the use of stress reduction techniques in health promotion efforts among African American women are discussed.

African American Women and Obesity: From Explanations to Prevention

This article reviews the literature on African American women’s obesity and physical inactivity with the goals of analyzing common themes and explanations in order to develop and provide better prevention. In addition, literature about body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and body size satisfaction is included in this review. These factors have importance in gaining an understanding about obesity and inactivity among African American women. The author introduces the other articles that are included in this special issue of the Journal of African American Studies that are related to African American health, specifically the health of African American women.

Reconceptualizing Access: A Cultural Competence Approach to Improving the Mental Health of African American Women

SUMMARY Despite the prevalence of mental illness among African American women, only a limited number of them seek or accept help from mental health service delivery systems. An extensive review of the literature revealed that (1) racism and discrimination, (2) socioeconomic status, (3) stress and well being, and (4) housing and neighborhood conditions must be considered in an assessment of the mental health status of African American women. These factors negatively affect their mental health and should be addressed in eliminating disparities in access to and utilization of mental health services. We recommend a process by which mental health providers reconceptualize access to mental health services using a socio-cultural framework. The knowledge gained in this process will result in increased provider cultural competence. This developmental process would be facilitated by the use of a socio-cultural conceptual model for treatment engagement. The model takes into consideration the barriers to mental health treatment services that, in part, have to be eliminated by mental health providers in order to decrease disparities and enhance both access to and utilization of mental health services by African American women.

African American women's health and social issues

African American women's health and social issues

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 Improved the Health of African-American Women

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 Improved the Health of African-American Women