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Personal characteristics, chronic stress, and depressive symptoms in midlife African-American women

Wheatley, Margaret Ann
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1239929001

Abstract Details

2009, Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, Nursing.
Research has demonstrated the relationship between chronic stress and depressive symptoms and supported the influence of personal characteristics on chronic stress and depressive symptoms. However, few studies have examined these relationships in specific minority populations. This study used Vitaliano’s model of chronic stress to guide a secondary analysis of these relationships in a convenience sample of 206 midlife (39-65 years) African-American women from a southern rural community. Data were obtained from a larger study of perimenopausal southern rural African-American women. The results showed that although the women reported relatively low levels of chronic stress and depressive symptoms, associations with certain personal vulnerabilities and personal and social resources emerged. Key findings were that women who rated their health as better than others reported greater stress (F=4.097; p=.018), and greater knowledge of menopausal symptoms and greater social support were correlated with greater chronic stress (r=.18, p<.01 and r=.23, p<.001, respectively). Greater social support was associated with greater severity of depressive symptoms (r=.15, p=.029). Chronic stress and depressive symptoms were not correlated. The findings indicate that although African-American women in midlife may be highly satisfied with their social support, the support that is received may not necessarily be helpful for managing stress or depressive symptoms. In addition, it is possible that in rating their health in comparison with others, the women only considered their physical health while stress reflected their psychological health. Given the association between their rating of health as better than others and greater chronic stress, perhaps these women were managing their stress so that it was not adversely affecting their physical health. Although no relationship was found between chronic stress and depressive symptoms, the results from this secondary analysis will inform healthcare professionals about the role of personal vulnerability and personal and social resources in association with chronic stress and depressive symptoms as perceived and experienced by African-American women in midlife. The findings indicate the need for further exploration of new, innovative, evidence-based methods that are useful for increasing the recognition of and need for treatment of chronic stress and depressive symptoms among African-American women in midlife.
May Wykle, PhD (Committee Chair)
Jaclene Zauszniewski, PhD (Committee Member)
Faye Gary, EdD (Committee Member)
Claudia Coulton, PhD (Committee Member)
244 p.
African Americans; Health; Mental Health; Nursing; Psychology; Social Psychology; Womens Studies
African-American women; midlife; chronic stress; depressive symptoms; personal characteristics; social support; perimenopause; menopause

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Wheatley, M. A. (2009). Personal characteristics, chronic stress, and depressive symptoms in midlife African-American women [Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1239929001

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Wheatley, Margaret. Personal characteristics, chronic stress, and depressive symptoms in midlife African-American women. 2009. Case Western Reserve University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1239929001.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Wheatley, Margaret. "Personal characteristics, chronic stress, and depressive symptoms in midlife African-American women." Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1239929001

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

case1239929001
1,240
© 2009, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies and OhioLINK.