Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #103049

Lionel D. Scott Jr., PhD, Washington University in St. Louis, Center for Mental Health Services Research, Campus Box 1093, 1 Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO 63130, 314-935-7970, lscott@gwbmail.wustl.edu

Black youth are argued to experience quantitatively more stressors and qualitatively different kinds of stressors than White youth due to their lower socioeconomic position and ethnic group membership. Young Black males also experience gender-based negative social stressors. This study examines proximal negative experiences (PNE), distal negative experiences (DNE), and experiences linked to negative Black male imagery (NI), their association to somatic symptoms, and the possible moderating influence of behavioral coping responses to daily stressors.

Part of an ongoing study of young Black males transitioning from the State of Missouri foster care system, participants (N = 74) ranged in age from 18 (N = 68, 91.9%) to 19 (N = 6, 8.1%) years. Negative social experiences were assessed by the Black Male Experiences Measure. Somatic symptoms were assessed by the CASD (Cardiovascular Arousal and Sleep Disturbances) questionnaire. Behavioral coping responses assessed were hide feelings, direct action, and seek social support.

Separate hierarchical regression analysis for PNE, DNE, and NI were conducted. In Step 1, PNE, DNE, and NI were significant positive predictors of somatic symptoms, explaining 8%, 13%, and 16% of the variance, respectively. In Step 2, behavioral coping responses explained an additional 11% to 14% of the variance. In Step 3, interaction terms did not contribute significantly to the explained variance in somatic symptoms, but one significant interaction emerged: NI × Hide Feelings. The NI–somatic symptoms association was significant for high users of hiding feelings (β=.51, p≤.001) and non-significant for low users of hiding feelings (β=.29, p=.12) coping responses.

Learning Objectives:

• • To elucidate the possible somatic consequences of negative social experiences attributable to young Black males’ own personal attributes, their membership in a larger devalued group and negative imagery toward young Black males generally.
• • To propose the consideration and assessment of negative gender- and race-based social experiences as a possible risk factor contributing to the marginal-to-poor health status among many Black males.

Related Web page: gwbweb.wustl.edu/projects/afammales/

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.