African American Professionals: Coping with Occupational Stress in Predominantly White Work Environments

Mail survey data from 112 African American professionals working in predominantly White work settings (human service and business) were examined to test hypotheses regarding the potential influences on job satisfaction of routine and race-related work stressors, personal workplace spirituality, internal locus of control, and work-related and nonwork related social resources. No significant differences of these variables were observed for type of work setting or for gender. Consistent with predictions, job satisfaction was related to routine work stressors, race-related stressors, internal locus of control, and work-related social support, but not to workplace spirituality or nonwork social support. Evidence was limited for predictions based on the buffer model: in only a few tests did personal and social resource variables moderate the relation between stressors and job satisfaction. Findings are discussed in relation to minority work stress. © 1998 Academic Press.

Duke Scholars

Author Judith Claire Holder-Cooper Medical Education