Hopelessness Among Middle-Aged and Older Blacks: The Negative Impact of Discrimination and Protecting Power of Social and Religious Resources

Abstract

Background and Objectives Hopelessness—a state of despair characterized by a negative outlook towards the future and a belief in insurmountable challenges—is a risk factor for major depression, cardiovascular disease, and all-cause mortality among older adults. It is also an understudied consequence of discrimination. Older Blacks disproportionately report experiencing discrimination and, as a result, may be at greater risk of feeling hopeless. However, social and religious resources may protect against the adverse effects of discrimination. The current study examines whether social support, social engagement, religious attendance, and religiosity buffer the effects of self-reported everyday discrimination on hopelessness among a nationally representative sample of Blacks. Research Design and Methods Using data from the 2010/2012 psychosocial assessment of the Health and Retirement Study, we regressed hopelessness on everyday discrimination, stratifying by two age groups, ages 51-64, representing middle-age (n=1,302) and age 65 and older, representing old age (n=887). Interaction terms tested whether each resource moderated the discrimination-hopelessness relationship controlling for depressive symptoms, socioeconomic status, and demographic characteristics. Results Greater reports of everyday discrimination were associated with higher levels of hopelessness for middle-aged and older Blacks. For middle-aged Blacks, the resources did not moderate the discrimination-hopelessness relationship; rather higher levels of support (b=-.294, p<0.01), religiosity (b=-.297, p<0.001), religious attendance (b=-.218, p<0.05) were independently and inversely associated with hopelessness. For older Blacks, higher levels of religiosity moderated the discrimination-hopelessness relationship (b=-.208, p<0.05) and higher levels of support (b=-.304, p<0.05) and social engagement (b=-.236, p<0.05) were independently and inversely associated with hopelessness. Discussion and Implications Findings suggest that self-reported everyday discrimination increases hopelessness among middle-aged and older Blacks but social and religious resources may counterbalance its effects, in age-specific ways, to protect against hopelessness. Religiosity may be especially important for older Blacks as a buffer against the negative consequences of discrimination on hopelessness.

Hopelessness and HIV infection: an exploratory study with a gender-specific perspective

“…A high level of physical and psychosocial stressors can lead to a number of psychological outcomes, including feelings of hopelessness [ 1 – 3 ]. Numerous studies have examined the prevalence of and the factors associated with hopelessness in patients with various chronic diseases including cancer [ 4 – 6 ]. Yet, there has been relatively little research of hopelessness in people living with HIV.…”

“…According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition [DSM-5]; [ 7 ], hopelessness is a symptom of depressive disorders. However, hopelessness may occur independent of depression [ 4 ], or as a precursor to a subtype of depression called hopelessness depression [ 8 ]. Several studies have shown a person can have feelings of hopelessness without feeling depressed [ 4 ].…”

“…However, hopelessness may occur independent of depression [ 4 ], or as a precursor to a subtype of depression called hopelessness depression [ 8 ]. Several studies have shown a person can have feelings of hopelessness without feeling depressed [ 4 ].…”

Investigating Longitudinal Associations Between Racial Microaggressions, Coping, Racial/Ethnic Identity, and Mental Health in Black Girls and Women

“…For example, some research finds dispositional active coping to be directly associated with less depressive symptoms in Black adolescents (Seaton, Upton, Gilbert, & Volpe, 2014). However, when considering racism‐related stress, removing oneself from the stressor may offer temporary relief (e.g., Brittian et al., 2013), but can lead to long‐term reductions in a sense of agency and greater hopelessness (Mitchell, Gutierrez‐Kapheim, Nguyen, & Al‐Amin, 2020). Some research indicates that coping with racial discrimination through problem solving is associated with less psychological distress (Scott & House, 2005).…”

Race and Mental Health Among Older Adults: Within- and Between-Group Comparisons

“…Finally, Mitchell and colleagues’ (2020) study of hopelessness represents a new and fruitful area of inquiry for studies of discrimination among older Black adults. Black adults have been noted for their higher rates of hopefulness relative to more materially advantaged racial groups (i.e., Whites) and in the face of dire life circumstances.…”