Stress Accumulation, Depressive Symptoms, and Sleep Problems Among Black Americans in the Rural South

Abstract

Centuries of systemic racism in the United States have led to Black Americans facing a disproportionate amount of life stressors. These stressors can have negative effects on mental and physical health, contributing to inequities throughout the life span. In the current study, we used longitudinal data from 692 Black adults in the rural South to examine the ways in which neighborhood stress, financial strain, and interpersonal experiences of racial discrimination operate independently and in tandem to affect depressive symptoms and sleep problems over time. Findings provided strong support for univariate and additive stress effects and modest support for multiplicative stress effects. Results underscore how multiple stressors stemming from systemic racism can undermine health among Black Americans and highlight the need for further research on factors that promote well-being in the face of these stressors.