Abstract
Research suggests experiences of racial discrimination influence blood pressure outcomes among Black women, but little is known about how coping strategies may influence this relationship. Our study aimed to assess the moderating effects of coping strategies on perceived racial discrimination and blood pressure among young Black mothers. We conducted a secondary analysis on data from the Intergenerational Impact of Genetic and Psychological Factors on Blood Pressure study. Eligible participants were African American or Black women aged 21 and older, who did not present with any cognitive disorder that may obscure reporting data, and who had a biological child who was 3-5 years old at the time of study enrollment. In our analysis, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were the primary outcomes, and experiences of discrimination situations and frequency subscales were the primary predictors. We considered the three subscales of the Coping Strategy Indicator (problem-solving, seeking social support, and avoidance) as moderators. Linear regression models were used. Of the 246 female participants (mean age: 31.3 years; SD = 5.8), the mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures were 114 mmHg (SD = 13.8) and 73 mmHg (SD = 10.9), respectively. The frequency of experiences of perceived racial discrimination was significantly associated with higher systolic blood pressure, but this relationship was moderated among participants with greater seeking social support scores (p = 0.01). There were no significant moderation effects in models with diastolic blood pressure as the outcome. Future studies should examine this relationship longitudinally and further investigate specific coping strategies Black women use to manage perceived racial discrimination.