Direct and Moderating Effects of Community Context on the Psychological Well-Being of African American Women

The effects of community characteristics on well-being were examined among 709 African American women. Direct and moderating effects of neighborhood characteristics on distress were tested. Aggregate-level ratings of neighborhood cohesion and disorder were significantly related to distress, although...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of personality and social psychology 2000-12, Vol.79 (6), p.1088-1101
Main Authors: Cutrona, Carolyn E, Russell, Daniel W, Hessling, Robert M, Brown, P. Adama, Murry, Velma
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation, Psychological
Adult
African-Americans
Biological and medical sciences
Black or African American - psychology
Black People
Child
Community
Distress
Emotions
Female
Gender Identity
Human
Human behaviour
Humans
Medical sciences
Mental Health
Mothers - psychology
Neighborhoods
Neighbourhoods
Prediction
Psychology
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Residence Characteristics
Risk
Risk Factors
Social Environment
Social Identification
Social psychiatry. Ethnopsychiatry
Social psychology
Social Support
Sociocultural environment
U.S.A
Well Being
Women
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Summary:The effects of community characteristics on well-being were examined among 709 African American women. Direct and moderating effects of neighborhood characteristics on distress were tested. Aggregate-level ratings of neighborhood cohesion and disorder were significantly related to distress, although the relation between cohesion and distress became nonsignificant when individual risk factors were statistically controlled. Aggregate-level neighborhood variables interacted significantly with individual risk and resource variables in the prediction of distress, consistent with trait-situation interaction theories ( D. Magnusson & N. S. Endler, 1977 ). Community cohesion intensified the benefits of a positive life outlook. Community disorder intensified both the benefits of personal resources and the detrimental effects of personal risk factors. Results showed evidence of resilience among African American women.
ISSN:0022-3514
1939-1315
DOI:10.1037/0022-3514.79.6.1088