Race and Sex Differences in Health Locus of Control Beliefs and Cardiovascular Reactivity

Abstract

Examined the effects of race, sex, health locus of control (HLC), and the interactions of these variables on cardiovascular reactivity in 214 children. Participants completed the Multidimensional HLC scales for children. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were measured at rest and during a reactivity task. Black boys had significantly higher scores on the powerful others (external HLC) subscale (p < 0.01) than white boys and girls. Furthermore, black boys showed greater systolic blood pressure reactivity when they were low on internality (vs. high) as compared to the other race-sex groups. Social and cultural factors may explain these differential findings across race and sex.

Physical and Cognitive Activity and Exercise for Older Adults: A Review

“…For example, heightened cardiovascular reactivity to exposures to psychological demand in younger and older adults has long been implicated in the aetiology of cardiovascular disease (Carroll et al, 2001;Light, 1981;Light et al, 1999;Manuck, Kasprowicz, & Muldoon, 1990;Obrist, 1981). Chronic cardiovascular reactivity may be further confounded by the fact that age-related functional changes may influence dimensions of personality and coping like anxiety (Goldstein, 2002;Paterniti, Dufouil, & Alperovitch, 2002;Wetherell, Reynolds, Gatz, & Pedersen, 2002), depression (Beekman et al, 2001;Snowdon, 2001), self-efficacy (Kempen & van Sonderen, 2002;Kramer, Kapteyn, Kuik, & Deeg, 2002;Slangen-de Kort, Midden, Aarts, & van Wagenberg, 2001) and sense of control (Brandtstadter & Rothermund, 1994;Drentea, 2002;Menec & Chipperfield, 1997;Shapiro, Sandman, Grossman, & Grossman, 1995;Shaw & Krause, 2001), each of which may be directly or indirectly related to cardiovascular health (Gerin, Litt, Deich, & Pickering, 1995Hutt & Weidner, 1993;Kubzansky, Sparrow, Vokonas, & Kawachi, 2001;Raikkonen, Matthews, Flory, Owens, & Gump, 1999;Sanz & Villamarin, 2001;Vitaliano, Russo, Paulsen, & Bailey, 1995;Waldstein, Bachen, & Manuck, 1997;Wilson, Williams, Arheart, Bryant, & Alpert, 1994).…”

“…Furthermore, the increased functional capacity of the cardiovascular system after physical training has a direct beneficial effect on psychological variables, such as the feeling of fitness, improved self-image, self-efficacy, sense of control, and elevated mood (Arent et al, 2000;Astrand & Rodahl, 1986;Bandura, 1982;Folkins & Sime, 1981;Morgan, 1985;Rigotti, Thomas, & Leaf, 1983). Some of these psychological variables may, in turn, mediate patterns of chronic cardiovascular reactivity in response to psychological challenge (Gerin et al, 1995(Gerin et al, , 1996Hutt & Weidner, 1993;Kubzansky et al, 2001;Raikkonen et al, 1999;Sanz & Villamarin, 2001;Vitaliano et al, 1995;Waldstein et al, 1997;Wilson et al, 1994).…”

The role of diet in minority adolescent health promotion.

“…Other investigators have also suggested that the greater incidence of obesity among individuals of low socioeconomic status, such as minorities, may be due to their beliefs in an external locus of control (Bowen et al, 1991). Native American adolescents (Tyler & Holsinger, 1975) and African American adolescents (Wilson, Williams, Arheart, Bryant, & Alpert, 1994) have also been shown to have greater beliefs in external locus of control in comparison with White adolescents, suggesting that minority adolescents may feel they have less control over their health outcomes than their white counterparts.…”

The Multilevel, Multicultural, and Multi-Temporal Ecosocial Framework of Population Health : How Neighborhoods, Culture, and History Impact Health Outcomes and Produce Health Disparities

“…Even among children from wealthy families, African American youth endorsed stronger beliefs in powerful others and chance when compared to Latino and European American youth. In a sample of 214 children, Wilson et al (1994) found that African American boys endorsed significantly higher external health locus of control beliefs (in powerful others) than European American boys or girls.…”