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Perceived stress following race-based discrimination at work is associated with hypertension in African-Americans. The metro Atlanta heart disease study, 1999-2001

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  • Din-Dzietham, Rebecca
  • Nembhard, Wendy N.
  • Collins, Rakale
  • Davis, Sharon K.

Abstract

There is increasing evidence of an association between stress related to job strain and hypertension. However little data exist on stress from racism and race-based discrimination at work (RBDW). The objective of this study was to investigate whether blood pressure (BP) outcomes are positively associated with stressful racism towards African-Americans from non-African-Americans as well as RBDW from other African-Americans. The metro Atlanta heart disease study was a population-based study which included 356 African-American men and women, aged [greater-or-equal, slanted]21 years, residing in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia during 1999-2001. Perceived stress was self-reported by 197 participants for racism from non-African-Americans and 95 for RBDW from other African-Americans. Sitting systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) BP were taken at a clinic visit and was the average of the last two of three BP measures. Hypertension was self-reported as physician-diagnosed high BP on 2 or more visits. Logistic and least-squares linear regression models were fit accordingly and separately for each type of stress, adjusting for age, gender, body mass index, and coping abilities. The likelihood of hypertension significantly increased with higher levels of perceived stress following racism from non-African-Americans, but not from RBDW from other African-Americans; adjusted odd ratios (95% CI) were 1.4 (1.0, 1.9) and 1.2 (0.8, 1.5) per unit increment of stress. The adjusted magnitude of SBP and DBP increase between low and very high level of stress, conversely, was greater when RBDW originated from African-Americans than racism from non-African-Americans. Stressful racism and RBDW encounters are associated with increased SBP and DBP and increased likelihood of hypertension in African-Americans. Future studies with a larger sample size are warranted to further explore these findings for mechanistic understanding and occupational policy consideration regarding stress risk reduction.

Suggested Citation

  • Din-Dzietham, Rebecca & Nembhard, Wendy N. & Collins, Rakale & Davis, Sharon K., 2004. "Perceived stress following race-based discrimination at work is associated with hypertension in African-Americans. The metro Atlanta heart disease study, 1999-2001," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 58(3), pages 449-461, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:58:y:2004:i:3:p:449-461
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    Cited by:

    1. Lee, Nagyeong & Sung, Hyoju & Kim, Ji-Hwan & Punnett, Laura & Kim, Seung-Sup, 2017. "Perceived discrimination and low back pain among 28,532 workers in South Korea: Effect modification by labor union status," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 198-204.
    2. Robert A. Giacalone & Carole L. Jurkiewicz & Mark Promislo, 2016. "Ethics and Well-Being: The Paradoxical Implications of Individual Differences in Ethical Orientation," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 137(3), pages 491-506, September.
    3. Colen, Cynthia G. & Ramey, David M. & Cooksey, Elizabeth C. & Williams, David R., 2018. "Racial disparities in health among nonpoor African Americans and Hispanics: The role of acute and chronic discrimination," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 199(C), pages 167-180.
    4. Harris, Ricci & Tobias, Martin & Jeffreys, Mona & Waldegrave, Kiri & Karlsen, Saffron & Nazroo, James, 2006. "Racism and health: The relationship between experience of racial discrimination and health in New Zealand," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 63(6), pages 1428-1441, September.
    5. M. Reza Nakhaie, 2018. "Service Needs of Immigrants and Refugees," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 19(1), pages 143-160, February.
    6. Cunningham, Timothy J. & Seeman, Teresa E. & Kawachi, Ichiro & Gortmaker, Steven L. & Jacobs, David R. & Kiefe, Catarina I. & Berkman, Lisa F., 2012. "Racial/ethnic and gender differences in the association between self-reported experiences of racial/ethnic discrimination and inflammation in the CARDIA cohort of 4 US communities," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 75(5), pages 922-931.
    7. Leslie, Lisa M. & Gelfand, Michele J., 2008. "The who and when of internal gender discrimination claims: An interactional model," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 107(2), pages 123-140, November.
    8. Seung-Sup Kim & David R Williams, 2012. "Perceived Discrimination and Self-Rated Health in South Korea: A Nationally Representative Survey," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(1), pages 1-8, January.

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