Coping with Stress and the John Henryism Hypothesis ErinKing,MPH,MS Department of Sociology Introduction WhatisJohnHenryism? • “Anindividual’sself- perceptionthathecanmeet thedemandsof hisenvironment throughhardwork anddetermination”(James etal.,1983,p.263). Department of Sociology History of John Henryism • ThetermwascreatedbyDr.ShermanJamesin 1978afterworkingwithablackfamernamed JohnMartininNorthCarolina(James,1993). Atthetimeoftheinterview,Dr.Jameswas planningtoconductaresearchstudytitled "BlackMen:TheirLivesandTheirHealth" (James,1993). Department of Sociology History of John Henryism • Jamesdiscoveredthat Martinhadovercome numerousobstaclesin hislifeandthathis successhadalso impactedhishealth. Department of Sociology John Martin's Life Martin'sLife Metabolicoutcome • Bornintoapoor • Hypertension sharecroppingfamilyin 1907 • Severearthritis • Taughthimselftoread • Pepticulcerdiseasethat atage21 resultedintheremovalof • Freedhimselfandhisfamily 40%ofhisstomach fromthesharecropping system • Paidoffhis$3,725FHAloan for75acresin5-years insteadusingthe40-year periodthathewasallotted (James,1993) Department of Sociology The creation of the John Henryism Hypothesis • Towardstheendoftheinterview,Jameswasmade awareofMartin'smiddlename,Henry. • Jameswasshockedtofindouttheresemblanceof Martin'snametothefolklorestoryofJohnHenry. • ThecombinationofJohnHenryMartin'slifeand thesymbolismofthefolklorestoryledJamesto createtheconceptofJohnHenryism. (James,1993) Department of Sociology John Henry the "Steel Driving Man" Department of Sociology Characteristics of John Henryism • powerfulmentalandphysicalstrength • "strongcommitmenttohardwork" • "asingle-mindeddeterminationtosucceed" (James,p.169,1994) Department of Sociology Definitions and Research Questions • “An individual’s self-perception that he can meet the demands of his environment Definition through hard work and determination” (James et al., 1983, p. 263). • With lower socioeconomic status is Research such self-perception connected to poor health outcomes (James et al., 1983)? Question Department of Sociology The John Henryism Hypothesis • "TheJohnHenryismhypothesisassumesthatlower socioeconomicstatusindividualsingeneral,and African-Americansinparticular,areroutinely exposedtopsychosocialstressors(e.g.,chronic financialstrain,jobinsecurity,andsubtleorperhaps notsosubtlesocialinsultslinkedtoraceorsocial class)thatrequirethemtouseconsiderableenergy eachdaytomanagethepsychologicalstress generatedbytheseconditions.However,the hypothesisalsoassumesthatnotallindividualsso exposedwillrespondtothesenoxiousconditions withhigheffortcoping"(James,1993,p.168). Department of Sociology Components of the John Henryism Hypothesis Socioeconomic Outcomeof Stress Coping Status Stress Department of Sociology Socioeconomic Status SESismeasuredthrougha combinationofsocialand economicfactorsthatinclude: • Income • Education* • Occupation • Ownershipof property (LaVeist&Isaac,2013) Department of Sociology Stress • SourceofStress – Eventfulexperience – LifeStrains (Pearlinetal.,1981) Department of Sociology Coping • "Thethingsthatpeople dotoavoidbeing harmedbylifestrains" (Perlin&Schooler, 1978)" • JohnHenryismisa formofhigheffort coping. Department of Sociology Outcome of Stress • Themanifestationof stress (Pearlinetal.,1981) Department of Sociology Video Clip Department of Sociology Research and John Henryism • EarlyresearchonJohnHenryismfocusedon hypertensioninAfricanAmericanmen. • Sincetheterm'screation,researchonJohn Henryismhasexpandedtodifferenthealth outcomes,diverseracialandethnicgroups,youth populations,andwomen. Department of Sociology Mental Health Research and John Henryism (JH) • AstudyconductedwithdatafromtheNSAL,butlimitedto AfricanAmericansfoundthatincreasedlevelsofJH increasedtheoccurrenceofmajordepressiveepisodesin AfricanAmericans(Hudsonetal.,2016). • AstudyinspiredbytheJHtheoryfoundthatruralAfrican Americanyouthwithhighlevelsofcompetencyandhigh ses-relatedrisksalsohadhigherlevelsofallostaticloadin youngadulthood(Brodyetal.,2013). • Inmythesis,conductedwithdatafromtheadolescent supplementoftheNationalSurveyofAmericanLife,I foundthatJHslightlyhelpedtoexplaintherelationship betweendiscriminationanddepressivesymptomsinblack youth(King,2020). Department of Sociology Making Connections • JohnHenryismshows usthatinsomeinstances higheffortcopingcan impactone's wellbeingandthat havingtoconsistently activelycopewithunjust environmentalbarriers withouthavingaccessto resourcescanresultin poorhealthoutcomes. Department of Sociology Moving from information to application Department of Sociology Additional Terms to Consider • HealthDisparities • HealthInequalities • HealthEquity Department of Sociology Health Disparities vs Health Inequalities HealthDisparities HealthInequalities • "…refer[s]todifferencesin • "Differencesinhealththat morbidity,mortality,and are'avoidable','unjust'and accesstohealthcareamong 'unfair.'(Whitehead,1991 populationsandgroups definedbyfactorssuchas ascitedinLaVeist&Issac, SES,gender,residence,and 2013). especiallyraceorethnicity" (Dressleretal.,2005ascited inLaVeist&Issac,2013). Department of Sociology Health Equity • "Equityinhealthis"the absenceofsystematicand potentiallyremediable differencesinoneormore aspectsofhealthacross populationsorpopulation subgroupsdefined socially,economically demographically,or geographically"" (Starfield,2001ascitedin LaVeist&Issac,2013). Department of Sociology ADVOCACY POLICY Department of Sociology Social Advocacy and Policy Confrontationofhealthinequalities Addresspowerimbalancestobringabout change Engagepeopleindialoguethatlinksroot causesandcommunityactions (Minkler,2015) Department of Sociology Socioecological Model 1. Individual 2. Interpersonal 3. Organizational 4. Community 5. Policy Department of Sociology References • James,S.A.,Hartnett,S.A.,&Kalsbeek,W.D.(1983).JohnHenryismandbloodpressuredifferences amongblackmen. JournalofBehavioralMedicine ,6(3),259-278. • James,S.A.(1993).ThenarrativeofJohnHenryMartin. SouthernCultures,Inauguralissue ,83-106. • James,S.A.(1994).JohnHenryismandthehealthofAfrican-Americans. Culture,Medicineand Psychiatry,18,163-182. • LaVeist,T.A.&Isaac,L.A.(2013).Race,ethnicity,andhealth:Apublichealthreader(2nd).JohnWiley& Sons.ISBN978-1-118-04908-2. • Pearlin,L.I.&Schooler,C.(1987).Thestructureofcoping. JournalofHealthandSocialBehavior, 19(1),2-21. • Pearlin,L.I.,Menaghan,E.G.,Liberman,M.A.,&Mullan,J.T.(1981).Thestressprocess. JournalofHealth andSocialBehavior ,22(4),337-356. • Hudson,D.L.,NeighborsH.W.,Geronimus,A.T.,&Jackson,J.S.(2016).Racialdiscrimination,John Henryism,anddepressionamongAfricanAmericans. JournalofBlackPsychology, 42(3),221–43. • Brody,G.H.,Yu,T.,Chen,E.,Miller,G.E.,Kogan,S.M.,Beach,S.R.H.(2013).PsychologicalScience,24(7), 1285-1293.doi:10.1177/0956797612471954. • Minkler,M.(2015).CommunityOrganizingandCommunityBuildingforHealthandWelfare(3rd). RugtersUniversityPress.ISBN:978-o-8135-5300-9. • King,E.M.(2020).Discrimination,depression,andJohnHenryisminAfricanAmericanandCaribbean Blackadolescents.(Master'sThesis).AvailablefromMississippiStateUniversity,ProQuestDissertations Publishing,(28029583). Department of Sociology Additional Questions? ThisPhotobyUnknownauthorislicensedunderCCBY. Department of Sociology .