Factors and processes associated with physical and psychological health of African-American mothers with Type 2 diabetes: A heuristic model (2003)
The authors proposed a model that helps to illustrate the relationship between social and personal stressors on the health of African American mothers with Type-2 diabetes. McBride Murray et al. note that being African American, being a mother, and having Type-2 diabetes, create a unique situation, in terms of stress and its effect on health: Type-2 diabetes increases the risk for depression and anxiety; African Americans deal with additional social (read: discrimination based on race/ethnicity) and personal stressors than others do; and African American women are often expected to be “superwomen,” in terms of the care that they provide, especially within their own families and communities. This model presumes that these examples of endemic stress can have a direct effect on one’s ability to manage their diabetes and can lead to increased maternal depression. In addition, these stressors can lead to negative coping skills, e.g., African American women may respond passively to stressors, but then overcompensate by devoting all of their efforts to families, sacrificing their health in the process. Conversely, familial relationships and processes, as well as maternal psychological resources (e.g., optimism, religiosity), can mediate the effect of the stress and the coping mechanism.
Relevance to the documentary: This model is useful in understanding the route of stress from the time of exposure until illness. It also provides an interesting example of how co-morbidity (diabetes) and other moderators (social support) and mediators can play a role in the relationship between stress and health. Most importantly this model informs the prospect of an intervention.
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