Date Approved

2021

Degree Type

Open Access Senior Honors Thesis

Department or School

Psychology

First Advisor

Dr. Heather Janisse, PhD

Second Advisor

Dr. Natalie Dove, PhD

Third Advisor

Dr. Ellen Koch, PhD

Abstract

Health problems, like obesity, are more prevalent in populations of African American women than any other population in the United States. Furthermore, stress has been found to disproportionately affect the health of African American women when compared to European American women. Factors such as neighborhood environment, socioeconomic status, and familial relationships play a significant role in the stress experienced by these women. This project aims to review the current literature on the relationship between neighborhood environment, socioeconomic disparity, stress, and the effects of stressors on health, among African American women. The purpose of this research is to increase understanding of the unique stressors that African American women face, and the consequences this stress may have on health. This research hopes to explain how psychological stress and living in a low-income neighborhood could be the instrumental factors impacting obesity and mortality rates in this community.

Included in

Psychology Commons

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