STRESS, COPING, AND CARDIOMETABOLIC HEALTH IN AFRICAN AMERICAN FAMILY CAREGIVERS

Abstract

African American female caregivers experience higher levels of stress and burden, and lower levels of psychological well-being compared to other populations. High levels of stress can increase cardiometabolic risk factors, such as blood pressure and body mass index (BMI). These effects on the body make coping strategies, such as spirituality, important to understand in this population. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between caregiver stress, caregiver reward, daily spirituality, and cardiometabolic health indicators (blood pressure, heart rate, BMI) in African American female caregivers. A secondary analysis was conducted using data from the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation, a multi-center longitudinal cohort study. There was a statistically significant positive relationship between caregiver reward and daily spirituality. However, there was not a statistically significant relationship between caregiver stress and daily spirituality. There was a statistically significant inverse relationship between caregiver reward and BMI. There was a statistically significant positive relationship between caregiver stress and BMI. There was a statistically significant inverse relationship between caregiver stress and heart rate. These findings suggest stress may contribute to changes in cardiometabolic health. Additionally, daily spirituality may influence reward in African American female caregivers. Future research should explore how stress impacts the body and examine the effect of spirituality and other coping mechanisms on psychological and physiological health outcomes in this population.