Various authors have noted that interethnic group and intraethnic group racism are significant stressors for many African Americans. As such, intergroup and intragroup racism may play a role in the high rates of morbidity and mortality in this population. Yet, although scientific examinations of the effects of stress have proliferated, few researchers have explored the psychological, social, and physiological effects of perceived racism among African Americans. The purpose of this article was to outline a biopsychosocial model for perceived racism as a guide for future research. The first section of this article provides a brief overview of how racism has been conceptualized in the scientific literature. The second section reviews research exploring the existence of intergroup and intragroup racism. A contextual model for systematic studies of the biopsychosocial effects of perceived racism is then presented, along with recommendations for future research.

Racism as a stressor for African Americans. A biopsychosocial model

https://www.healio.com/psychiatry/journals/psycann/1976-12-6-12/{806b8887-c02e-40c8-a228-57f1cdb2bdba}/the-stress-of-life.pdf

The stress of life

BackgroundThe goal of the present study was to analyze associations between depression and mortality of cancer patients and to test whether these associations would vary by study characteristics.MethodMeta-analysis was used for integrating the results of 105 samples derived from 76 prospective studies.ResultsDepression diagnosis and higher levels of depressive symptoms predicted elevated mortality. This was true in studies that assessed depression before cancer diagnosis as well as in studies that assessed depression following cancer diagnosis. Associations between depression and mortality persisted after controlling for confounding medical variables. The depression–mortality association was weaker in studies that had longer intervals between assessments of depression and mortality, in younger samples and in studies that used the Beck Depression Inventory as compared with other depression scales.ConclusionsScreening for depression should be routinely conducted in the cancer treatment setting. Referrals to mental health specialists should be considered. Research is needed on whether the treatment of depression could, beyond enhancing quality of life, extend survival of depressed cancer patients.

/pdf/depression-and-cancer-mortality-a-meta-analysis-l64waoqyed.pdf

Depression and cancer mortality: a meta-analysis.

Depression and cancer: mechanisms and disease progression.

Relationships among smartphone addiction, stress, academic performance, and satisfaction with life

Global satisfaction with life across three age groups (18 to 40 years, 41 to 65 years, and 66 years and above) was investigated. Multiple regressions were computed to examine the separate and joint effects of perceived stress and coping resource availability upon life satisfaction across the three age groups (N = 189). Age differences in perceived stress, coping resource availability, and life satisfaction, were also investigated. Results of this cross-sectional investigation indicated that self-appraisal measures of perceived stress and coping resource effectiveness served as moderate predictors of global life satisfaction, and that for the total sample the combined effects of perceived stress and coping resource effectiveness were better predictors of life satisfaction than either variable considered separately. Perceived stress was found to be a better predictor of life satisfaction for younger adults, and coping resource effectiveness was a better predictor of satisfaction with life for middle-aged and older adults. Significant age differences in life satisfaction, perceived stress, and coping resources were also found. The assessment of perceived stress and coping has important implications for life satisfaction among all age groups, and has particular significance to older adults. By identifying age differences in variables associated with satisfaction with life, more effective efforts can be made to promote physical and psychological well-being in late adulthood.

Perceived stress and coping resource availability as predictors of life satisfaction in young, middle-aged, and older adults.

This article presents a two-pronged attempt to synthesize the research on stress coping: (1) a review of models and taxonomies of behaviors and resources related to stress coping and (2) a meta-analysis of recent experimental and quasi- experimental studies of stress coping. The review led to the construction of a taxonomy and, in conjunction with the meta-analysis, to a comprehensive model of stress coping in two parts (stress and coping). In the meta-analysis an unbiased effect size of .57 was obtained by comparing groups administered treatments to reduce stress with comparison groups. Social skills training, problem solving, cognitive restructuring, and relaxation training appeared to be among the more effective treatments. In comparing the frequency of treatments identified in the meta-analysis with those in the taxonomy, some treatment domains (such as problem solving) were well represented in the taxonomy but appeared infrequently in the meta-analysis. Implications for stress-coping treatment and re...

Stress Coping A Qualitative and Quantitative Synthesis with Implications for Treatment

Influence of mood and adjustment to cancer on compliance with chemotherapy among breast cancer patients

A follow-up study of 263 volunteers who had completed a national smoking cessation program was conducted to measure the relative contribution of stress coping resources, smoking history, loci, for health control, and certain demographic factors to the maintenance of smoking cessation. Stress coping resources and smoking history variables proved to be more predictive of the maintenance of abstinence than either perceived locus of control or demographic variables. Coping resources in the forms of perceived confidence, physical health, physical fitness, problem solving, self-directedness, and tension control were useful in predicting abstinence maintenance. Contrary to some earlier studies, no gender differences in relapse rates were found, and smoking a greater number of cigarettes daily and smoking cigarettes with a higher tar content were related to greater success in maintaining smoking abstinence. As was found in previous studies, the presence of other smokers in the household contributed to relapse.

Predictors of smoking cessation and maintenance.

This article reviews previous studies with the Coping Resources Inventory for Stress (CRIS) and reports the results of a recent convergent/divergent study on six CRIS scales. CRIS scales have high internal consistency and test-retest reliabilities and appear to be useful in predicting illness, emotional distress, personality type, drug dependency, occupational choice, and life satisfaction. The convergent/divergent sample consisted of 68 graduate student volunteers in a southeastern urban university. Each of the CRIS scales converged with its validating test and diverged from a test that measures a different construct. Results offer considerable support for the construct validity of CRIS scales and suggest that it may be a promising research and clinical instrument for the study of stress coping.

Kenneth B. Matheny

Papers

Perceived stress and coping resource availability as predictors of life satisfaction in young, middle-aged, and older adults.

Stress Coping A Qualitative and Quantitative Synthesis with Implications for Treatment

Influence of mood and adjustment to cancer on compliance with chemotherapy among breast cancer patients

Predictors of smoking cessation and maintenance.

The Coping Resources inventory for stress: A measure of perceived resourcefulness