NIOSHTIC-2 Publications Search

Addressing occupational stress among African Americans.

Roberts R

Occupational health disparities: improving the well-being of ethnic and racial minority workers. Leong FTL, Eggerth DE, Chang C-H, Flynn MA, Ford JK, Martinez RO, eds. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association (APA), 2017 Feb; :113-131

https://doi.org/10.1037/0000021-006

20049448

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), stress is one of the top 10 social determinants of health disparities, with substantial research suggesting that greater stress is associated with increased risk for impairments in mental and physical health across populations (Baum, 2002; Chen & Miller, 2013). African Americans, who comprise roughly 12% of the workforce (Bureau of Labor Statistics [BLS], 2011), face job- and workplace-related circumstances that increase their risk of occupational stress per se. African Americans' overexposure to stressful aspects of work and the link between job stress and the stress-related illnesses that disproportionately impact them (e.g., hypertension) suggest that interventions designed to prevent or reduce occupational stress among Black Americans are needed. Although churches are often in unique positions of influence in Black communities (Poussaint & Alexander, 2000), experts have not typically worked with them to design and deliver customized occupational safety and health interventions. Consequently, this chapter explores the question of whether an occupational stress intervention developed in partnership with churches might positively influence African Americans' awareness of risks to health and wellbeing posed by job stress and help them build skills and a sense of efficacy with respect to preventing or managing it.

Occupational health disparities; Public-health; Workers; Worker health; Families; Health care; Work-life balance; Intervention; Diversity; Occupational health; Occupational health programs; Racial factors; Minority health; Health disparities

20170213

Chapter

Leong FTL; Eggerth DE; Chang C-H; Flynn MA; Ford JK; Martinez RO

2017

9781433826924

DART

Healthcare and Social Assistance; Services

Occupational health disparities: improving the well-being of ethnic and racial minority workers

OH; DC