The Impact of Social Support, Psychosocial Characteristics, and Contextual Factors on Racial Disparities in Hypertension between Black and White Women

Abstract

Hypertension is a serious medical condition that is suffered more by Black women than other US groups. Because racial disparities in hypertension are not fully explained by behavioral or socioeconomic factors, we examine the impact of cultural and social factors on this disparity. We use Wave IV data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) (Udry, 1998) to determine the effects of social support, psychosocial characteristics, and contextual adulthood factors on hypertension. Of all variables studied, the only factor that was statistically significant in explaining this disparity is body mass index (BMI), leaving much to be explained. We emphasize that health effects of racism and other stressors faced disproportionately by US Black women are not easily measured, therefore their effects on hypertension are less certain. Because these social factors have dangerous biological consequences, including effects on the cardiovascular system (Panza et al., 2019), we emphasize the importance of constructing better tools to assess interpersonal and structural discrimination and their specific health effects. This will advance a broader goal of learning more about the psychosocial effects of differential treatment on health, as well as alleviating forms of unequal race- based treatment and stress.