Positive and Negative Affect More Concurrent among Blacks than Whites

Lankarani, Maryam Moghani; Assari, Shervin

doi:10.3390/bs7030048

Cited by 27 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 91 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…As a result, despite several social and economic risk factors, Blacks maintain their sense of well‐being. This is also consistent with recent studies showing that Blacks with depression maintain higher levels of hope (Assari & Lankarani, ), positive emotions (Lankarani & Assari, ), and mastery (Assari & Lankarani, ) compared to Whites.…”

Section: A Paradoxical Effectsupporting

confidence: 92%

Health Disparities due to Diminished Return among Black Americans: Public Policy Solutions

Assari

2018

Social Issues Policy Review

Self Cite

311

674

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

There are persistent and pervasive disparities in the health of Black people compared to non‐Hispanic Whites in the United States. There are many reasons for this gap; this article explores the role of “Blacks’ diminished gain” as a mechanism behind racial health disparities. Diminished gain is a phenomenon wherein the health effects of certain socioeconomic resources and psychological assets are systematically smaller for Blacks compared to Whites. These patterns are robust, with similar findings across different resources, assets, outcomes, settings, cohorts, and age groups. However, the role of diminished gain as a main contributing mechanism to racial health disparities has been historically overlooked. This article reviews the research literature on diminished gain and discusses possible causes for it, such as the societal barriers created by structural racism. Policy solutions that may reduce Blacks’ diminished gain are discussed.

show abstract

Section: A Paradoxical Effectsupporting

confidence: 92%

Health Disparities due to Diminished Return among Black Americans: Public Policy Solutions

Assari

2018

Social Issues Policy Review

Self Cite

311

674

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The main reason polypharmacy is more common in older adults is that multimorbidity, which is required for polypharmacy [20,21], is more common in older adults. Polypharmacy is particularly common in AAs, who often develop chronic diseases (CDs) at an earlier age than Whites [23,24]. To fill the existing gap in the literature, there is a need to study the correlation of polypharmacy in low-income AA older adults with multimorbidity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Polypharmacy Is Associated with Lower Memory Function in African American Older Adults

et al. 2020

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Although previous research has linked polypharmacy to lower cognitive function in the general population, we know little about this association among economically challenged African American (AA) older adults. This study explored the link between polypharmacy and memory function among AA older adults. This community-based study recruited 399 AA older adults who were 65+ years old and living in economically disadvantaged areas of South Los Angeles. Polypharmacy (taking 5+ medications) was the independent variable, memory function was the outcome variable (continuous variable), and gender, age, living arrangement, socioeconomic status (educational attainment and financial strain), health behaviors (current smoking and any binge drinking), and multimorbidity (number of chronic diseases) were the covariates. Linear regression was used for data analyses. Polypharmacy was associated with lower scores on memory function, above and beyond covariates. Among AA older adults, polypharmacy may be linked to worse cognitive function. Future research should test the mechanisms by which polypharmacy is associated with lower levels of cognitive decline. There is a need for screening for memory problems in AA older adults who are exposed to polypharmacy.

show abstract

“…This is not because our tools do not correctly measure depressive symptoms in Blacks [ 52 , 53 ]. It is possible because Blacks who are depressed maintain high levels of positive emotions that can potentially undo the harmful physiological effects of negative affect [ 54 , 55 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Depressive Symptoms Increase the Risk of Mortality for White but Not Black Older Adults

Assari

2018

Healthcare

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Introduction. Long-term studies have shown that depressive symptoms predict the risk of mortality. However, it is unknown if this effect is present in shorter time intervals. In addition, recent research suggests that the salience of the negative affect on the risk of mortality is not similar across racial groups. The current study uses data from a national study of Black and White older adults to examine racial differences in the effect of baseline depressive symptoms on mortality risk over three years in the United States. Methods. This study used a longitudinal prospective design and followed 1493 older adults who were either White (n = 759) or Black (n = 734) for three years from 2001 to 2004. Depressive symptoms measured at baseline was the independent variable. Demographic factors, socio-economic characteristics (education, income, marital status), health behaviors (smoking and drinking), and health (self-rated health) measured at baseline in 2001 were covariates. The dependent variable was all-cause mortality between 2001 and 2004. Race was the moderator. Logistic regressions were used for data analysis. Results. In the pooled sample, high depressive symptoms at baseline were not associated with the three-year risk of mortality. In the pooled sample, we found a significant interaction between race and depressive symptoms on mortality, suggesting a stronger effect for Whites in comparison to Blacks. In race stratified models, depressive symptoms at baseline were predictive of mortality risk for Whites, but not Blacks. Conclusions. In the United States, Black-White differences exist in the effects of depressive symptoms on mortality risk in older adults. White older adults may be more vulnerable to the effects of depressive symptoms on mortality risk.

show abstract

Positive and Negative Affect More Concurrent among Blacks than Whites

Cited by 27 publications

References 91 publications

Health Disparities due to Diminished Return among Black Americans: Public Policy Solutions

Health Disparities due to Diminished Return among Black Americans: Public Policy Solutions

Polypharmacy Is Associated with Lower Memory Function in African American Older Adults

Depressive Symptoms Increase the Risk of Mortality for White but Not Black Older Adults

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About