TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of stressful life events in young black men with high blood pressure
AU - Han, Hae Ra
AU - Kim, Miyong T.
AU - Rose, Linda
AU - Dennison, Cheryl
AU - Bone, Lee
AU - Hill, Martha N.
PY - 2006
Y1 - 2006
N2 - Objectives: 1) To describe stressful life events as experienced by a sample of young Black men with high blood pressure (HBP) living in inner-city Baltimore, Maryland; and 2) to examine the effect of cumulative stressful life events on substance use, depression, and quality of life. Methods: Data were obtained over 48 months by interview from 210 men in an HBP management study. Results: Stressors repeatedly occurring over time included death of family member or close friend (65.2%), having a new family member (32.9%), change in residence (31.4%), difficulty finding a job (24.3%), and fired or laid off from work (17.6%). Involvement with crime or legal matters was reported at least twice during the 48 months by 33.3% of men. When a cumulative stressful life events score was calculated by summing the number of events experienced at 6-month points over 48 months and tested for its relationship with the health outcomes, the findings of multivariate analyses revealed significant associations between cumulative life stressors and depression and quality of life. No significant relationship was found between stressful life events and substance use. Conclusions: The results suggest that cumulative stressful life events have a negative effect on mental health and quality of life in young Black men with HBP. Future study should focus on developing interventions to assist individuals in managing distress related to stressful events with necessary community resources.
AB - Objectives: 1) To describe stressful life events as experienced by a sample of young Black men with high blood pressure (HBP) living in inner-city Baltimore, Maryland; and 2) to examine the effect of cumulative stressful life events on substance use, depression, and quality of life. Methods: Data were obtained over 48 months by interview from 210 men in an HBP management study. Results: Stressors repeatedly occurring over time included death of family member or close friend (65.2%), having a new family member (32.9%), change in residence (31.4%), difficulty finding a job (24.3%), and fired or laid off from work (17.6%). Involvement with crime or legal matters was reported at least twice during the 48 months by 33.3% of men. When a cumulative stressful life events score was calculated by summing the number of events experienced at 6-month points over 48 months and tested for its relationship with the health outcomes, the findings of multivariate analyses revealed significant associations between cumulative life stressors and depression and quality of life. No significant relationship was found between stressful life events and substance use. Conclusions: The results suggest that cumulative stressful life events have a negative effect on mental health and quality of life in young Black men with HBP. Future study should focus on developing interventions to assist individuals in managing distress related to stressful events with necessary community resources.
KW - Black men
KW - High blood pressure
KW - Stressful life events
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M3 - Article
C2 - 16599350
AN - SCOPUS:33744970497
SN - 1049-510X
VL - 16
SP - 64
EP - 70
JO - Ethnicity and Disease
JF - Ethnicity and Disease
IS - 1
ER -