Where I'm Livin' and How I'm Feelin': Associations among community stress, gender, and mental-emotional health among Black Americans.

RATIONALE: Structural racism is a primary avenue for the perpetuation of racial health disparities. For Black Americans, both historically and contemporarily, the neighborhood context serves as one of the most striking examples of structural racism, with stressful neighborhood contexts contributing to the well-documented inequalities in psychological functioning among this population. OBJECTIVE: Thus, in this study, we adapted an intersectional-ecological framework to investigate the links between community stress and multiple dimensions of mental-emotional health for Black men and women. METHODS: Drawing on cross-sectional data from 842 Black Americans from the Milwaukee area, we tested both objective (Area Deprivation Index; ADI) and subjective (perceived neighborhood disadvantage; PND) indicators of community stress as simultaneous predictors of negative and positive affect and the odds of psychological disorder (depression, anxiety) in multilevel models, examining gender differences in these linkages. RESULTS: Results showed greater objective community stress was related to lower levels of negative affect for both men and women and lower odds of psychological disorder for women specifically. Greater subjective community stress was related to higher levels of negative affect and lower levels of positive affect for both men and women and to higher odds of psychological disorder for women specifically. CONCLUSIONS: Findings highlight the complex intersectional nature of the links between community stress and Black Americans' mental-emotional health. Specifically, findings demonstrate the pernicious psychological effects of perceived community stress and allude to Black Americans', particularly women's, active resistance and resilience to objective disadvantage, potentially through investing in social relationships in their neighborhoods.

Associations among Financial Well-Being, Daily Relationship Tension, and Daily Affect in Two Adult Cohorts Separated by the Great Recession.

Financial well-being may be an important context for daily emotional reactivity to relationship tension (e.g., arguments) whose salience varies across historical time or as a function of exposure to economic downturns. This study investigated how emotional reactivity, operationalized as daily fluctuations in negative and positive affect associated with the occurrence of daily relationship tension, varied by financial well-being among those who were and were not exposed to the Great Recession of 2008. Two matched, independent subsamples of partnered individuals from the National Study of Daily Experiences completed identical 8-day diary protocols, one before the Great Recession (n = 587) and one after (n = 351). Individuals reported higher negative affect and lower positive affect on days when relationship tension occurred. Further, results indicated that negative affect reactivity, but not positive affect reactivity, was moderated by both financial well-being and cohort status. For the pre-recession cohort, negative affect reactivity was stronger among those with lower financial well-being. However, among the post-recession cohort, financial well-being did not moderate negative affect reactivity to relationship tension. Findings highlight the utility of considering major societal events, such as economic downturns, to understand variability in emotional reactivity to day-to-day relationship tension in the context of financial well-being, as the salience of financial well-being in the ways relationship tension and negative affect are related on a daily basis appears to vary by historical context.

Love, health, and the 'hood: An examination of romantic relationship adjustment and perceived neighborhood quality as predictors of partnered Black Americans' long-term psychological health.

Existing disparities regarding Black Americans' psychological health warrant further investigation of socioecological factors that may be associated with negative and positive dimensions of psychological health in this population. Romantic relationship functioning and neighborhood context are two domains relevant to Black Americans' mental health. However, less is known about how they may serve as independent and interactive prospective predictors of Black Americans' psychological health and potentially in distinctive ways for Black men and women. Using data from 333 partnered Black Americans who participated in the Midlife in the United States study, we investigated relationship adjustment and neighborhood quality as independent and interactive predictors of negative and positive affect 10 years later and examined gender differences in these linkages. Higher neighborhood quality predicted lower levels of negative affect and higher levels of positive affect for both men and women a decade later. Additionally, for Black men, the longitudinal association between relationship adjustment and negative affect differed by neighborhood quality such that better relationship adjustment predicted higher subsequent negative affect only for men in lower quality neighborhoods. Findings demonstrate the connections among romantic relationship functioning, ecological resources, and gender in this population and highlight the importance of incorporating socioecological and intersectional perspectives for predicting Black Americans' long-term psychological health. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Racial Discrimination and Romantic Relationship Dynamics among Black Americans: A Systematic Review.

Despite increasing research, the links between racial discrimination and Black Americans' romantic relationship dynamics remain unclear. Guided by models of mundane extreme environmental stress (Peters & Massey, 1983), sociocultural family stress (McNeil Smith & Landor, 2018), and Black marital outcomes (Bryant et al., 2010), we conducted a systematic review of the literature examining racial discrimination and relationship dynamics among Black Americans in same-race and interracial romantic relationships. Synthesizing findings from 32 published empirical articles, we find support for manifestations of each component of MEES in Black intimate life. We uncover evidence that racial discrimination is associated with compromised relationship functioning for Black Americans. Several psychosocial resources were also identified as either buffering these associations or posing drawbacks/limitations for Black Americans. We discuss notable gaps in the literature and directions for future research including intersectional investigations, broader examination of the MEES context, and de-centering whiteness among studies of interracial relationship dynamics.

Religious Coping and Gender Moderate Trajectories of Marital Love among Black Couples.

An increasing body of work documents the roles of religion and spirituality in Black American marriages. We built on this research to examine religious coping as a potential cultural resource for Black marriages using a dyadic analytic approach with longitudinal data. Specifically, we investigated the effects of positive (i.e., sense of spiritual connectedness) and negative (i.e., spiritual tension or struggle) religious coping on trajectories of marital love reported by wives and husbands in 161 Black, married, mixed-gender couples, and we tested the potential moderating role of spouse gender. At baseline, spouses reported on their religious coping, and they rated their marital love at baseline and during two additional home interviews conducted annually. Data were analyzed using growth curve modeling within an Actor-Partner Interdependence Modeling framework. Husbands who reported more positive religious coping at baseline exhibited relatively high and stable marital love over time, whereas those who reported less positive religious coping reported less love at baseline and exhibited declines in love over time. Wives who reported less negative religious coping at baseline were higher in marital love initially but showed declines over time, whereas those who reported more negative religious coping at baseline were lower in marital love initially but showed increases in love over time. Results highlight the importance of further research on the role of religion and religious coping in Black couples' marital experiences and suggest differential roles of positive and negative religious coping for men's and women's marital love. Clinical and policy implications are discussed.

Cada vez más investigaciones documentan los papeles que desempeñan la religión y la espiritualidad en los matrimonios afroestadounidenses. Utilizamos estas investigaciones como punto de partida para analizar el afrontamiento religioso como posible recurso cultural para los matrimonios de color usando un método analítico diádico con datos longitudinales. Específicamente, investigamos los efectos del afrontamiento religioso positivo (p. ej.: la sensación de conexión espiritual) y negativo (p. ej.: la tensión o la lucha espiritual) en las trayectorias del amor conyugal informado por esposas y esposos en 161 parejas de color, casadas y de género mixto, y evaluamos el posible rol moderador del género del cónyuge. En el momento basal, los cónyuges informaron sobre su afrontamiento religioso y calificaron su amor conyugal en el momento basal y durante otras dos entrevistas en el hogar realizadas anualmente. Se analizaron los datos usando el modelo de curva de crecimiento dentro de un marco del modelo de interdependencia actor-pareja. Los esposos que informaron un afrontamiento religioso más positivo en el momento basal demostraron un amor conyugal relativamente alto y estable con el paso del tiempo, mientras que los que informaron un afrontamiento menos positivo indicaron menos amor en el momento basal y demostraron disminuciones en el amor con el paso del tiempo. Las esposas que informaron menos afrontamiento religioso negativo en el momento basal tuvieron un amor conyugal más alto inicialmente, pero demostraron disminuciones con el paso del tiempo, mientras que aquellas que informaron un afrontamiento religioso más negativo en el momento basal tuvieron menos amor conyugal inicialmente, pero demostraron aumentos del amor con el paso del tiempo. Los resultados destacan la importancia de realizar más investigaciones sobre el papel que desempeñan la religión y el afrontamiento religioso en las experiencias conyugales de las parejas de color, y sugieren que el afrontamiento religioso positivo y negativo desempeña distintos roles en el amor conyugal de los hombres y las mujeres. Se comentan las implicancias clínicas y políticas.

Secondary individual outcomes following multicouple group therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder: An uncontrolled pilot study with military dyads.

Cognitive-behavioral conjoint therapy (CBCT) for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has demonstrated efficacy for improving PTSD and comorbid symptoms and relationship adjustment. To enhance treatment efficiency and scalability, we developed a 2-day, abbreviated, intensive, multicouple group version of CBCT for PTSD (AIM-CBCT for PTSD). Prior work demonstrated that AIM-CBCT for PTSD wasassociated with reductions in PTSD and comorbid symptoms in a sample of 24 post-9/11 active duty military or veteran couples who received the treatment in a retreat format over a single weekend. The current study investigated secondary outcomes regarding trauma-related cognitions, psychosocial impairment, and insomnia. For trauma-related cognitions, reductions were nonsignificant and small at 1-month follow-up, ds = -0.14 to -0.32. However, by 3-month follow-up, there were significant, medium effect size reductions in total trauma-related cognitions, d = -0.68, and negative views of self and others, ds = -0.64 and -0.57, respectively, relative to baseline. There was also a nonsignificant, small-to-medium effect-size reduction in self-blame, d = -0.43, p = .053, by 3-month follow-up. For psychosocial impairment, there were significant and medium-to-large and large effect size reductions by 1- and 3-month follow-ups, ds = -0.73 and -0.81, respectively. There were nonsignificant, small effect size reductions in insomnia at both 1- and 3-month follow-ups relative to baseline, ds = -0.30 and -0.34, respectively. These findings suggest that AIM-CBCT for PTSD is associated with reductions in maladaptive posttraumatic cognitions and psychosocial impairment but that adjunctive interventions may be needed to address insomnia.

A Closer Examination of Relational Outcomes from a Pilot Study of Abbreviated, Intensive, Multi-Couple Group Cognitive-Behavioral Conjoint Therapy for PTSD with Military Dyads.

Cognitive-behavioral conjoint therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder (CBCT for PTSD) is associated with improvements in patients' PTSD symptoms, partners' psychological distress, and relationship satisfaction. However, little is known about whether CBCT for PTSD is associated with changes in other relationship domains that have theoretical and clinical relevance to the relational context of PTSD. The current study is a secondary analysis of relational outcomes from an uncontrolled, within-group trial designed to examine whether an abbreviated, intensive, multi-couple group version of CBCT for PTSD (AIM-CBCT for PTSD) delivered in a retreat during a single weekend was associated with improvements in PTSD symptoms and relationship satisfaction. In this investigation, we examined whether AIM-CBCT for PTSD is also associated with improvements in ineffective arguing, supportive dyadic coping by partner, joint dyadic coping, and partners' accommodation of patients' PTSD symptoms. Participants were 24 couples who included a post-9/11 U.S. service member or veteran with PTSD. At 1- and 3-month follow-up, patients reported significant reductions in couples' ineffective arguing (ds = -.71 and -.78, respectively) and increases in supportive dyadic coping by partners relative to baseline (ds = .50 and .44, respectively). By 3-month follow-up, patients also reported significant increases in couples' joint dyadic coping (d = .57), and partners reported significant reductions in their accommodation of patients' PTSD symptoms (d = -.44). Findings suggest that AIM-CBCT for PTSD is associated with improvements in multiple relationship domains beyond relationship satisfaction but that these may be differentially salient for patients and partners.

La terapia cognitivo-conductual conjunta para el trastorno por estrés postraumático (TCC para el TEPT) está asociada con mejoras en los síntomas de TEPT de los pacientes, en el distrés psicológico de sus parejas y en la satisfacción con la relación. Sin embargo, se sabe poco acerca de si la TCC para el TEPT está asociada con cambios en otros aspectos de la relación que son de interés teórico y clínico para el contexto relacional del TEPT. El presente estudio es un análisis secundario de los resultados relacionales de un ensayo intragrupal no controlado diseñado para analizar si una versión grupal multipareja, intensiva y abreviada de la TCC para el TEPT (MIA-TCC para el TEPT) practicada en un retiro durante un solo fin de semana estuvo asociada con mejoras en los síntomas de TEPT y en la satisfacción con la relación. En esta investigación, analizamos si la MIA-TCC para el TEPT también está asociada con mejoras en las discusiones ineficaces, en el afrontamiento diádico comprensivo de la pareja del paciente, en el afrontamiento diádico conjunto y en la adaptación de las parejas de los pacientes a sus síntomas de TEPT. Los participantes fueron 24 parejas en las que había un miembro o veterano de las Fuerzas Armadas de los Estados Unidos que prestó servicio con posterioridad al 11/9 y que tenía TEPT. En el seguimiento del mes y de los tres meses, los pacientes informaron reducciones significativas de las discusiones ineficaces de la pareja (ds = -0.71 y -0.78, respectivamente) y aumentos del afrontamiento diádico comprensivo de sus parejas en relación con el momento basal (ds = 0.50 y 0.44, respectivamente). En el seguimiento de los tres meses, los pacientes también informaron aumentos significativos del afrontamiento diádico conjunto de las parejas (d = 0.57), y sus parejas informaron reducciones significativas de su adaptación a los síntomas de TEPT de los pacientes (d = -0.44). Los resultados sugieren que la MIA-TCC para el TEPT está asociada con mejoras en varios aspectos de las relaciones aparte del de la satisfacción en la pareja, pero que estos pueden tener una importancia diferente para los pacientes y sus parejas.

Socioeconomic status trajectories across the life course, daily discrimination, and inflammation among Black and white adults.

OBJECTIVE: This study replicates and expands Surachman et al.'s (2020) findings documenting socioeconomic status (SES) trajectories across the life course in an independent sample of Black (majority recruited from Milwaukee, WI) and white adults in the United States. We extend this work by examining whether SES trajectories and daily discrimination are independently associated with markers of inflammation. METHOD: Data were from 215 Black adults (188 recruited from Milwaukee, WI; 27 recruited from across the continental US) and 985 white adults (7 recruited from Milwaukee, WI; 978 recruited from across the continental US) who completed the baseline interview and biomarker assessment during the second wave of the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) Study (ages = 34-84). SES life course trajectories were examined using latent class analysis based on objective (e.g., income and education) and subjective (e.g., social status and financial strain) indicators of SES. The association between life course SES trajectories and daily discrimination with markers of inflammation (IL-6, CRP, fibrinogen) were examined using multiple linear regression analyses, controlling for demographic, psychological, behavioral, and health-related covariates. RESULTS: Black and white participants showed different patterns of life course SES trajectories. Among Black participants, the trajectories were Objectively Stable Low (45.16%), Downwardly Mobile (18.05%), and Upwardly Mobile (36.79%). Compared to the Upwardly Mobile, the Objectively Stable Low class showed elevated IL-6 after controlling for all covariates. Further, daily discrimination, but not SES trajectories, was significantly associated with CRP and fibrinogen after controlling for demographic, psychological, and behavioral covariates. White participants' experiences of life course SES trajectories were characterized as Objectively Stable Low (7.02%), Subjectively Downward (12.48%), Upwardly Mobile (39.99%), and Stable High (40.51%). Among white participants, SES trajectories, but not daily discrimination, were associated with all markers of inflammation (controlling for age and sex). DISCUSSION: Consistent with the fundamental cause theory, multiple independent pathways link SES trajectories across the life course and daily discrimination to racial disparities in IL-6, CRP, and fibrinogen.

Prospective associations between depressive symptoms and marital satisfaction in Black couples.

Associations between depressive symptoms and relationship distress are well-established, but little is known about these linkages among Black couples, or about the role of sociocultural factors in these processes. In this study, we applied a dyadic analytic approach, Actor-Partner Interdependence Modeling (APIM), to address 2 goals: to assess the prospective, bidirectional associations between depressive symptoms and marital satisfaction over a 1-year period in a racially homogenous sample of 168 heterosexual Black couples, and to explore whether these associations were moderated by husbands' and wives' experiences of racial discrimination and/or the centrality of race in their personal identities. Findings revealed that depressive symptoms predicted relative declines in marital satisfaction reported by both self and partner for both husbands and wives. Moderation analyses indicated that, when wives reported greater racial centrality, their depressive symptoms predicted relative declines in husbands' marital satisfaction. In contrast, when wives reported lower racial centrality, their depressive symptoms were not associated with husbands' satisfaction. Together, the findings highlight the interdependence between spouses' mental health and relationship satisfaction and the role of sociocultural factors in these linkages. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).