Abstract
Behavioral and mental health outcomes have been associated with experiencing high levels of stress. Yet, little is known about
the link between the nature of stressors, their accumulation over time, and the risk for externalizing and internalizing outcomes.
Compared to the general population, African Americans are exposed to a disproportionate number of stressors beginning earlier
in life. Incorporating Agnew’s General Strain Theory into the study of stress, this study examined whether different kinds
of stressors are equally salient in the risk for violent behaviors and depressive symptoms among African Americans transitioning
into young adulthood. It further examined the effects of the accumulation of stressors in different life domains and their
effect on risks. This study utilized data from an African American subsample of an ongoing longitudinal study that followed
604 adolescents (53 % females) from 9th grade into adulthood. Multilevel growth curve models were used to examine how changes
in stressors across multiple life domains related to violent behaviors and depressive symptoms. We found that continued exposure
to perceived daily stress and racial discrimination stress increased the risk for violent behaviors during young adulthood,
and exhibited a nonlinear relationship between the accumulation of stressors and risk for violence. Moreover, we found that
exposure to perceived daily stress, financial stress, neighborhood stress, and racial discrimination stress increased the
risk of depressive symptoms and led to a linear relationship between the accumulation of stressors and risk for depressive
symptoms. Findings suggest identifiable stressors that can persist over time to influence risks at young adulthood.
the link between the nature of stressors, their accumulation over time, and the risk for externalizing and internalizing outcomes.
Compared to the general population, African Americans are exposed to a disproportionate number of stressors beginning earlier
in life. Incorporating Agnew’s General Strain Theory into the study of stress, this study examined whether different kinds
of stressors are equally salient in the risk for violent behaviors and depressive symptoms among African Americans transitioning
into young adulthood. It further examined the effects of the accumulation of stressors in different life domains and their
effect on risks. This study utilized data from an African American subsample of an ongoing longitudinal study that followed
604 adolescents (53 % females) from 9th grade into adulthood. Multilevel growth curve models were used to examine how changes
in stressors across multiple life domains related to violent behaviors and depressive symptoms. We found that continued exposure
to perceived daily stress and racial discrimination stress increased the risk for violent behaviors during young adulthood,
and exhibited a nonlinear relationship between the accumulation of stressors and risk for violence. Moreover, we found that
exposure to perceived daily stress, financial stress, neighborhood stress, and racial discrimination stress increased the
risk of depressive symptoms and led to a linear relationship between the accumulation of stressors and risk for depressive
symptoms. Findings suggest identifiable stressors that can persist over time to influence risks at young adulthood.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Empirical Research
- Pages 1-13
- DOI 10.1007/s10964-012-9778-3
- Authors
- Lorena M. Estrada-Martínez, George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, Campus Box 1196, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
- Cleopatra H. Caldwell, Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 3822 SPH I, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029, USA
- José A. Bauermeister, Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 3790A SPH I, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029, USA
- Marc A. Zimmerman, Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 2846 SPH I, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029, USA
- Journal Journal of Youth and Adolescence
- Online ISSN 1573-6601
- Print ISSN 0047-2891