Psychosocial Mechanisms Linking the Social Environment to Mental Health in African Americans

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dc.citation.firstpagee0154035
dc.citation.issueNumber4
dc.citation.journalTitlePLoS ONE
dc.citation.volumeNumber11
dc.contributor.authorMama, Scherezade K.
dc.contributor.authorLi, Yisheng
dc.contributor.authorBasen-Engquist, Karen
dc.contributor.authorLee, Rebecca E.
dc.contributor.authorThompson, Deborah
dc.contributor.authorWetter, David W.
dc.contributor.authorNguyen, Nga T.
dc.contributor.authorReitzel, Lorraine R.
dc.contributor.authorMcNeill, Lorna H.
dc.date.accessioned2016-06-06T16:48:22Z
dc.date.available2016-06-06T16:48:22Z
dc.date.issued2016
dc.description.abstractResource-poor social environments predict poor health, but the mechanisms and processes linking the social environment to psychological health and well-being remain unclear. This study explored psychosocial mediators of the association between the social environment and mental health in African American adults. African American men and women (n = 1467) completed questionnaires on the social environment, psychosocial factors (stress, depressive symptoms, and racial discrimination), and mental health. Multiple-mediator models were used to assess direct and indirect effects of the social environment on mental health. Low social status in the community (p < .001) and U.S. (p < .001) and low social support (p < .001) were associated with poor mental health. Psychosocial factors significantly jointly mediated the relationship between the social environment and mental health in multiple-mediator models. Low social status and social support were associated with greater perceived stress, depressive symptoms, and perceived racial discrimination, which were associated with poor mental health. Results suggest the relationship between the social environment and mental health is mediated by psychosocial factors and revealed potential mechanisms through which social status and social support influence the mental health of African American men and women. Findings from this study provide insight into the differential effects of stress, depression and discrimination on mental health. Ecological approaches that aim to improve the social environment and psychosocial mediators may enhance health-related quality of life and reduce health disparities in African Americans.
dc.identifier.citationMama, Scherezade K., Li, Yisheng, Basen-Engquist, Karen, et al.. "Psychosocial Mechanisms Linking the Social Environment to Mental Health in African Americans." <i>PLoS ONE,</i> 11, no. 4 (2016) Public Library of Science: e0154035. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0154035.
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0154035
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/90446
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherPublic Library of Science
dc.rightsThis is an open access article, free of all copyright, and may be freely reproduced, distributed, transmitted, modified, built upon, or otherwise used by anyone for any lawful purpose. The work is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication.
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/
dc.titlePsychosocial Mechanisms Linking the Social Environment to Mental Health in African Americans
dc.typeJournal article
dc.type.dcmiText
dc.type.publicationpublisher version
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