SOCIAL SUPPORT, STRESS, AND BLOOD-PRESSURE IN BLACK ADULTS

Psychosocial factors arising from socioeconomic disadvantage and discr imination may contribute to the excess risk of elevated blood pressure in African-Americans. The purpose of this study was to assess the ass ociation of social support and stress with blood pressure in a communi ty-based sample of 25- to 50-year old black adults in Pitt County, NC. A stratified random sample of dwellings was selected in 1988, and 1,7 84 black adults (80% of those eligible) were interviewed. Analyses wer e sex specific and adjusted for age, obesity, and waist/hip ratio. In separate analyses of emotional support, instrumental support, and stre ss with blood pressure, all associations were in the predicted directi on (inverse for support, direct for stress) but were stronger for syst olic than for diastolic brood pressure. Differences in systolic blood pressure associated with low support or high stress ranged from 5.2 to 3.6 mmHg in women and 3.5 to 2.5 mmHg in men. In simultaneous regress ion analyses of support and stress, each of the separate effects was r educed for women, but a sizable aggregate effect of low support and hi gh stress remained [+7.2 mmHg (95% confidence limits = +1.3, +13.1) fo r systolic blood pressure and +4.0 mmHg (95% confidence limits = +0.1, +7.9) for diastolic blood pressure].