Abstract
In this study, the effects of psychosocial job stressors on the resting blood pressure (BP) of 112 black male workers were examined. The subjects resided in a rural, poor, predominantly black community in eastern North Carolina. The job stressors included unemployment, lack of job security, lack of job success, the perception that wages earned were too low for the work performed (and inhibited anger about unfair wages), and the perception that being black had hindered chances for achieving job success. The effect-modifying influence of on-the-job social support, and John Henryism, on several of these relationships was also examined. For systolic blood pressure, a main effect was observed for job security, and an interaction effect was observed for employment status and time of day of interview. For diastolic blood pressure, significant interactions were observed for job success and John Henryism, and for job success and the perception that being black had hindered chances for achieving job success. These findings further clarify under what conditions John Henryism may be associated with higher BPs in this sample of black men. These findings also shed light on the emotional pathways through which selected job stressors may influence resting BPs in these men.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ax, A. F. (1953). The physiological differential between fear and anger in humans.Psychosom. Med. 15: 433–442.
Cobb, S., and Rose, R. M. (1973). Hypertension, peptic ulcer and diabetes in air traffic controllers.JAMA 224: 489–492.
Diamond, E. L. (1982). The role of anger and hostility in essential hypertension and coronary heart disease.Psychol. Bull. 92: 410–433.
Erikson, E. H. (1963).Childhood and Society, Norton, New York.
Gary, L. E. (1981). A Social Profile. In Gary, L. E. (ed.),Black Men, Sage, Beverly Hills, Calif.
Gentry, W. D., Chesney, A. P., Gary, H. E., Hall, R. P., and Harburg, E. (1982). Habitual anger-coping styles. I. Effect on mean blood pressure and risk for essential hypertension.Psychosom. Med. 44: 195–202.
Gentry, W. D., Chesney, A. P., Hall, R. P., Kennedy, C. D., Gary, H. E., and Harburg, E. (1983). The relation of demographic attributes and habitual anger-coping styles.J. Soc. Psychol. 121: 45–50.
Gilbert, D., and Kahl, J. A. (1982).The American Class Structure: A New Synthesis, Dorsey Press, Homewood, Ill.
Harburg, E., Blakelock, E. H., and Roeper, P. J. (1979). Resentful and reflective coping with arbitrary authority and blood pressure: Detroit.Psychosom. Med. 41: 189–202.
Harburg, E., Erfurt, J. C., Hauenstein, L. S., Chape, C., Schull, W. I., and Schork, M. A. (1973). Socio-ecological stress, suppressed hostility, skin color, and black-white male blood pressure: Detroit.Psychosom. Med. 35: 276–296.
Harris, W. (1982).The Harder We Run: Black Workers Since the Civil War, Oxford University Press, New York.
House, J. S., McMichael, A. J., Wells, J. A., Kaplan, B. H., and Landerman, L. R. (1979). Occupational stress and health among factory workers.J. Health Soc. Behav. 20: 139–160.
James, S. A., Hartnett, S. A., and Kalsbeek, W. (1983). John Henryism and blood pressure differences among black men.J. Behav. Med. 6: 259–278.
Kasl, S. V., and Cobb, S. (1970). Blood pressure changes in men undergoing job loss: A preliminary report.Psychosom. Med. 32: 19–38.
Kasl, S. V., and Cobb, S. (1980). The experience of losing a job: Some effects on cardiovascular functioning. In Proceedings on the Conference on the Role of Psychosocial Factors in Coronary Heart Disease.Psychother. Psychosom. 34: 88–109.
Kleinbaum, D. G., Kupper, L. L., and Morgenstern, H. (1982).Epidemiologic Research: Principles and Quantitative Methods, Wadsworth, Belmont, Calif.
Liebow, E. (1967).Tally's Corner: A Study of Negro Streetcorner Men, Little, Brown, Boston.
Levinson, D. L. (1978).The Seasons of a Man's Life, Knopf, New York.
Ross, A. M., and Hill, H. (1967).Employment, Race, and Poverty, Harcourt, Brace & World, New York.
Raftery, E. B., and Miller-Craig, M. W. (1978). Information derived from direct 24-hour recordings. In Clement, D. L. (ed.),Blood Pressure Variability, University Park Press, Baltimore.
Schacter, S. (1957). Pain, fear, and anger in hypertensives and normotensives.Psychosom. Med. 19: 17–29.
Schwartz, G. E., Weinberger, D. A., and Singer, J. A. (1981). Cardiovascular differentiation of happiness, sadness, anger, and fear following imagery and exercise.Psychosom. Med. 43: 343–364.
Vaillant, G. E. (1979). Natural history of male psychologic health: Effects of mental health on physical health.N. Engl. J. Med. 301: 1249–1254.
Wilson, W. J. (1978).The Declining Significance of Race, Oxford University Press, New York.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This research was supported by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (5938) and by a Research Career Development Award (K04 HL01011) to Sherman A. James from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. The authors thank Stan Kasl, Edward Wagner, and Laurence Watkins for critiquing an earlier version of this paper and Lesa McPherson and Sue Hartnett for their invaluable technical assistance.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
James, S.A., LaCroix, A.Z., Kleinbaum, D.G. et al. John Henryism and blood pressure differences among black men. II. The role of occupational stressors. J Behav Med 7, 259–275 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00845359
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00845359