The buffering effect of social support on the relationship between discrimination and psychological distress among church-going African-American adults

Mai Ly N. Steers; Tzu An Chen; Julie Neisler; Ezemenari M. Obasi; Lorna H. McNeill; Lorraine R. Reitzel

doi:10.1016/j.brat.2018.10.008

The buffering effect of social support on the relationship between discrimination and psychological distress among church-going African-American adults

Mai Ly N. Steers, Tzu An Chen, Julie Neisler, Ezemenari M. Obasi, Lorna H. McNeill, Lorraine R. Reitzel

Health Disparities Research

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

47 Scopus citations

Abstract

Discrimination is a pervasive stressor among African-American adults. Social support is an important protective factor for psychological distress, especially among minority populations. Although a number of studies have examined social support in relation to discrimination, little research has examined how social support may serve as an important protective factor against both physical and psychological symptoms related to overall psychological distress within this group. The current study examined social support as a moderator of the relationship between discrimination and overall psychological distress as measured by the Brief Symptom Inventory among a community sample of 122 African-American church-going adults. Results indicated that social support buffered the associations of discrimination and overall psychological distress (p < 0.0001) in expected directions. Findings highlight the importance of cultivating strong social relationships to attenuate the effects of this social determinant on mental health disparities among this group.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	121-128
Number of pages	8
Journal	Behaviour Research and Therapy
Volume	115
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2018.10.008
State	Published - Apr 2019

Keywords

African Americans
Discrimination
Psychological distress
Resilience
Social support

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Clinical Psychology
Psychiatry and Mental health

MD Anderson CCSG core facilities

Clinical Trials Office

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10.1016/j.brat.2018.10.008

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title = "The buffering effect of social support on the relationship between discrimination and psychological distress among church-going African-American adults",

abstract = "Discrimination is a pervasive stressor among African-American adults. Social support is an important protective factor for psychological distress, especially among minority populations. Although a number of studies have examined social support in relation to discrimination, little research has examined how social support may serve as an important protective factor against both physical and psychological symptoms related to overall psychological distress within this group. The current study examined social support as a moderator of the relationship between discrimination and overall psychological distress as measured by the Brief Symptom Inventory among a community sample of 122 African-American church-going adults. Results indicated that social support buffered the associations of discrimination and overall psychological distress (p < 0.0001) in expected directions. Findings highlight the importance of cultivating strong social relationships to attenuate the effects of this social determinant on mental health disparities among this group.",

keywords = "African Americans, Discrimination, Psychological distress, Resilience, Social support",

author = "Steers, {Mai Ly N.} and Chen, {Tzu An} and Julie Neisler and Obasi, {Ezemenari M.} and McNeill, {Lorna H.} and Reitzel, {Lorraine R.}",

note = "Funding Information: This project was supported by institutional funding from the University of Houston and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (to LR Reitzel) and the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health through The University of Texas MD Anderson's Cancer Center Support Grant ( CA016672 ). Recruitment was achieved with the assistance of Project CHURCH (Creating a Higher Understanding of cancer Research and Community Health) staff who were partially supported by the Duncan Family Institute through the Center for Community-Engaged Translational Research. Manuscript authorship was further supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse through R01 DA034739 (to EM Obasi), the National Cancer Institute through P20 CA221697 (to LR Reitzel) and P20 CA221696 (to LH McNeill), and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism through K99 AA025394 (to M-LN Steers). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the project supporters. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2018 Elsevier Ltd",

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AU - McNeill, Lorna H.

AU - Reitzel, Lorraine R.

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N2 - Discrimination is a pervasive stressor among African-American adults. Social support is an important protective factor for psychological distress, especially among minority populations. Although a number of studies have examined social support in relation to discrimination, little research has examined how social support may serve as an important protective factor against both physical and psychological symptoms related to overall psychological distress within this group. The current study examined social support as a moderator of the relationship between discrimination and overall psychological distress as measured by the Brief Symptom Inventory among a community sample of 122 African-American church-going adults. Results indicated that social support buffered the associations of discrimination and overall psychological distress (p < 0.0001) in expected directions. Findings highlight the importance of cultivating strong social relationships to attenuate the effects of this social determinant on mental health disparities among this group.

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The buffering effect of social support on the relationship between discrimination and psychological distress among church-going African-American adults

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

MD Anderson CCSG core facilities

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