An Exploration of the Relationship between Gendered Racial Microaggressions and Elevated Ambulatory Blood Pressure among Early Middle-aged African American Women in Atlanta, GA Open Access
German, Taylor (Spring 2020)
Abstract
For African Americans, racism, race-related stressors and discrimination have been linked to many negative mental and physical health outcomes, such as symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), sleep disorders, obesity, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Though experiences of racism have strong linkages to physiological health disparities, there is a dearth of literature that captures the unique, intersectional experience of African American women. Black women disproportionately experience cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality. This research utilized the Weathering Hypothesis and Allostatic Load Theory, combined with the historical Black feminist Intersectionality Framework, to hypothesize that chronic exposure to stress leads to early health deterioration for Black women. This research question focused on Essed’s concept of gendered racism (1991) – the simultaneous experience of racism and sexism – to highlight one form of interpersonal discrimination – gendered racial microaggressions. Gendered racial microaggressions are everyday, subtle, and indirect demonstrations of oppression based on race and sex. The primary objective of this research is to explore the relationship between chronic exposure to gendered racial microaggressions and ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) over the course of 48 hours in healthy Black women between the ages of 30 and 45 in Atlanta, GA.
Participants were 395 Black women who completed Jioni Lewis’ 23-item Gendered Racial Microaggressions survey, which assesses lifetime exposure to gendered racial microaggressions via four subscales: (1) sexual objectification, (2) silenced and marginalized, (3) strong Black woman stereotype and (4) angry Black woman stereotype. Participants wore an ABP monitor for 48 hours that recorded systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) readings every 30 minutes during waking hours and every hour during nighttime. Regression modeling was conducted to assess the potential interaction between gendered racial microaggressions and 48-hour daytime and nocturnal ambulatory blood pressure, as well as hypertensive status at the baseline study visit, after adjusting for other blood pressure risk factors, such as smoking and body mass index.
Based on these analyses, there was no statistically significant relationship between gendered racial microaggressions and ABP. This may be due to other variables that mediate or moderate this relationship, such as resilience factors or coping. A post-hoc analysis was completed with depression as an outcome, based on theoretical models and other research. There was a significant positive relationship between gendered racial microaggressions and depression. This novel research builds upon the dearth of literature that examines the interpersonal and psychophysiological stressors that may contribute to the health of African American women.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
Background
Problem Statement
Purpose Statement
Research Question
Rationale
Theoretical Framework
CHAPTER 2: REVIEW OF LITERATURE
Literature Review
Racism as Stress in Theoretical Framework
Summary
CHAPTER 3: METHODS
Research Design
Target Population and Sample
Sampling and Recruitment
Eligibility Requirements
Data Collection and Management
Measuring Gendered Racism
Measuring Ambulatory Blood Pressure
Measuring Hypertension
Post-Hoc Analysis of Depression
Measuring Covariates
Data Analysis Methods
CHAPTER 4: RESULTS
Breakdown of Sample
Gendered Racial Microaggressions
Key Findings
Post-Hoc Analysis Findings
Summary of Results
CHAPTER 5: DISCUSSION
Summary of Study and Findings
Positioning Key Findings into Theoretical and Societal Context
Positioning Secondary Findings into Theoretical and Societal Context
Limitations
Implications for Public Health and Future Research
Conclusion
REFERENCES
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