Neighborhood context and perceptions of stress over time: An ecological model of neighborhood stressors and intrapersonal and interpersonal resources and coping

Background Stress is a potential cause of Black-White health inequalities, and a mechanism linking social and economic inequalities to health. While multiple factors are likely to contribute to the unequal distribution of stressor exposure, structural differences in neighborhood social and economic contexts may capture current and chronic exposure to stress. Purpose We examine the processes through which behavioral, psychological and social processes interact to influence perceived stress, and changes in stress, in a sample of African Americans followed from middle adolescence to early adulthood (N = 681, 51% female). We use a three-level cross-classified model to test neighborhood differences in perceived stress, and the relationship between intra- and interpersonal factors and stress, as guided by the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping. Finally, we examine cross-level interactions between individual and neighborhood factors to situate the neighborhood stress process in a larger ecological framework. Findings Preliminary results indicate that perceived stress increases through the transition into adulthood, followed by a subsequent curvilinear decrease in perceived stress through early adulthood. We also find that individuals who reported more high effort coping and social support experienced less perceived stress over time, and individuals who reported more fear of neighborhood violence experienced more stress over time. Currently we are examining cross-level neighborhood effects, which account for residential moves over the seven years of our study. Conclusions This research contributes to the growing body of literature connecting socio-ecological context on perceived stress. We discuss the implications of our findings for future research and intervention.