Coping strategies for and health consequences of African American men's stress: Perspectives of African American men and women and implications for intervention

Extant literature on the health of African American (AA) men suggests that stress plays a critical role in a number of their health outcomes. Few studies, however, have examined AA men and women's beliefs about the consequences of stress on AA men's health or the perceived acceptability of strategies AA men use to cope with stress. Interventions should consider how beliefs about stress, health, and gendered norms shape perceptions of acceptable coping strategies. This study explores these issues with an intersectional approach using qualitative data from African American men and key women in their lives. Thematic content analysis was used to examine data from 18 exploratory focus groups with 154 African American men, ages 30 and older, and eight groups with 77 African American women. There were a number of similarities and differences in men's and women's perceptions that highlight potential roles and strategies for men and women to help men reduce stress. Physical and mental health coping consequences of stress were identified by men and women, but women made stronger connections between men's social health and their stress. Men and women also identified behavioral and psychological coping strategies of AA men under stress. The consequences and coping strategies discussed revealed gendered norms about strength and emotionality as well as relational factors that could help shape the design of interventions aimed at improving AA men's health by modifying their responses to stress.