Examining Black-White Differences in the Mediating Role of Anger in the Stress-Health Relationship

• In Event: Medical Sociology Section Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (90 minute): Table 9. Racialized Experiences of Health and Healthcare

Abstract

Prior research has examined the impact of life stressors on emotional responses and the impact of emotions on health outcomes. Anger is a particularly important emotion that has been shown to have complex associations with a variety of health outcomes. Socio-structural predictors of anger have also been shown to impact the relationship between anger and these health outcomes. Our research focuses on the impact of racialized social status on the experience and expression of anger and the subsequent impact of anger on cardiovascular health. Using longitudinal data from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study, we examine whether and how anger mediates the relationship between work- and home- related stressors and cardiovascular health. Our results show that the impact of anger on the relationship between interpersonal stressors and cardiovascular health differs by race and point to the importance of racialization in understanding the role of emotions in health outcomes.

Authors

• Cerenity E. Collins, Clemson University

• Deven Douglas, University of Georgia