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

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dc.citation.firstpagee0154035en_US
dc.citation.issueNumber4en_US
dc.citation.journalTitlePLoS ONEen_US
dc.citation.volumeNumber11en_US
dc.contributor.authorMama, Scherezade K.en_US
dc.contributor.authorLi, Yishengen_US
dc.contributor.authorBasen-Engquist, Karenen_US
dc.contributor.authorLee, Rebecca E.en_US
dc.contributor.authorThompson, Deborahen_US
dc.contributor.authorWetter, David W.en_US
dc.contributor.authorNguyen, Nga T.en_US
dc.contributor.authorReitzel, Lorraine R.en_US
dc.contributor.authorMcNeill, Lorna H.en_US
dc.date.accessioned2016-06-06T16:48:22Zen_US
dc.date.available2016-06-06T16:48:22Zen_US
dc.date.issued2016en_US
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.en_US
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.en_US
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0154035en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/90446en_US
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.publisherPublic Library of Scienceen_US
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.en_US
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/en_US
dc.titlePsychosocial Mechanisms Linking the Social Environment to Mental Health in African Americansen_US
dc.typeJournal articleen_US
dc.type.dcmiTexten_US
dc.type.publicationpublisher versionen_US
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