Blood pressure and self-concept among African-American adolescents

Differences in blood pressure among individuals of African ancestry living in the United States compared with those living in Africa suggest that the high prevalence of hypertension among African Americans may be due in part to environmental factors. There are a number of environmental models that attempt to account for the high rate of hypertension among African Americans. One model proposes that a strong African self-concept protects African-American adolescents from the hypertensive effects of social stress. This model was tested during a blood pressure survey of 333 adolescents in three urban Los Angeles high schools. African self-concept was assessed using a three-item scale. The average score for the three items was strongly related to systolic blood pressure among African-American male adolescents. After controlling for age, body mass index, and parent's education in regression analyses, the relation was reduced, but an effect remained. The model suggests that the hypertensive effects of the environment will operate unless the pathway from environmental stress to hypertension is blocked by a strong African-American self-concept.