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Does coping mediate the relationship between personality and cardiovascular health in African Americans?

Publication ,  Journal Article
Whitfield, KE; Jonassaint, C; Brandon, D; Stanton, MV; Sims, R; Bennett, G; Salva, J; Edwards, CL
Published in: Journal of the National Medical Association
February 2010

Few studies have examined traits or behaviors that may predispose some African Americans to poor cardiovascular health outcomes. While several models of personality exist, the 5-factor model (FFM) is arguably the best representation of personality and provides a useful framework for the study of personality and health. Among personality characteristics associated with health risks among African Americans, a high-effort coping style called John Henryism is among the most thoroughly examined. It is not clear if personality coping and health are connected in a meaningful way. The present study utilized data from the Baltimore Study of Black Aging (BSBA) to examine whether personality was linked to John Henryism, how personality might be linked to cardiovascular health, and how John Henryism might mediate the relationship between personality and cardiovascular health. The sample consisted of 234 older African Americans (mean age, 67 years), 28% of which were men. Regressions were used to examine the questions. The results indicated that those who are more neurotic report more cardiovascular health problems, and that openness and conscientiousness were significant predictors of active coping. The mediation analysis results suggest that coping style did not mediate the relationship between personality and reports of cardiovascular health problems. These findings highlight the importance of personality in accounting for cardiovascular health in African Americans.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Journal of the National Medical Association

DOI

EISSN

1943-4693

ISSN

0027-9684

Publication Date

February 2010

Volume

102

Issue

2

Start / End Page

95 / 100

Related Subject Headings

  • Public Health
  • Personality
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Cardiovascular Diseases
  • Black or African American
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Aged
 

Citation

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ICMJE
MLA
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Whitfield, K. E., Jonassaint, C., Brandon, D., Stanton, M. V., Sims, R., Bennett, G., … Edwards, C. L. (2010). Does coping mediate the relationship between personality and cardiovascular health in African Americans? Journal of the National Medical Association, 102(2), 95–100. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0027-9684(15)30496-x
Whitfield, Keith E., Charles Jonassaint, Dwayne Brandon, Michael V. Stanton, Regina Sims, Gary Bennett, Joyti Salva, and Christopher L. Edwards. “Does coping mediate the relationship between personality and cardiovascular health in African Americans?Journal of the National Medical Association 102, no. 2 (February 2010): 95–100. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0027-9684(15)30496-x.
Whitfield KE, Jonassaint C, Brandon D, Stanton MV, Sims R, Bennett G, et al. Does coping mediate the relationship between personality and cardiovascular health in African Americans? Journal of the National Medical Association. 2010 Feb;102(2):95–100.
Whitfield, Keith E., et al. “Does coping mediate the relationship between personality and cardiovascular health in African Americans?Journal of the National Medical Association, vol. 102, no. 2, Feb. 2010, pp. 95–100. Epmc, doi:10.1016/s0027-9684(15)30496-x.
Whitfield KE, Jonassaint C, Brandon D, Stanton MV, Sims R, Bennett G, Salva J, Edwards CL. Does coping mediate the relationship between personality and cardiovascular health in African Americans? Journal of the National Medical Association. 2010 Feb;102(2):95–100.
Journal cover image

Published In

Journal of the National Medical Association

DOI

EISSN

1943-4693

ISSN

0027-9684

Publication Date

February 2010

Volume

102

Issue

2

Start / End Page

95 / 100

Related Subject Headings

  • Public Health
  • Personality
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Cardiovascular Diseases
  • Black or African American
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Aged