The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #60294

Mary S. Webb, PhD, RN¹, Mary Evans, PhD², Carolyn B. Yucha, PhD, RN³, Janet Meininger, PhD, RN⁴, and Jason W Beckstead, PhD¹. (1) College of Nursing, University of South Florida, MDC Box 22, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa, FL 33612, 813 974-9133, mwebb@hsc.usf.edu, (2) Research and Training Center for Children's Mental Health, University of South Florida, 13301 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL 33567, (3) College of Nursing, University of Florida, PO Box 100197, Gainesville, FL 32610, (4) Scnool of Nursing, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 1100 Holcombe, Houston, TX 77030

A major cause of the disproportionate rate of cardiovascular disease in African American women is the high prevalence of hypertension. African American women who experience continued psychological stress are at an even greater risk for developing hypertension and target organ diseases. The purpose of this study is to estimate the treatment effect sizes of two stress management interventions designed to assist African American women in modifying their cognitive and behavioral responses to the stress process. Particpants for this study are being recruited at community work settings. Selection criteria includes (a) self-report of hypertensive medication use),or (b) systolic blood pressure of 140 mmHg or higher, or (c) diastolic blood pressure of 90 mmHg or higher. Variables for the study include: (a) state and trait anger, (b) anger expression style, (c) personal strain (vocational, interpersonal, physical, and psychological), (d) coping resources (recreation, self-care, social support, and rational-cognitive coping), and (e) blood pressure. The study design is a 3 x 3 factorial with a desired sample size of 90. Participants are randomly assigned to 1 of three treatment groups: Cognitive mediation, arousal reduction (relaxation), or a delayed treatment control group.Variables are measured at baseline, plus 6 and 10 weeks after entry into the study. Findings from this pilot study and implications for a larger, randomized clinical trail will be presented.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the implementation of community-based stress management interventions for African American women. 2.Contrast the treatment effects of two stress managment interventions: cognitive mediation and relaxation training.
• Discuss study findings and their implications for future nursing research.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Handout (.PPT format, 253.5 kb)