Wellness among African-American and Caucasian students attending a predominantly White institution

J Health Psychol. 2019 Oct;24(12):1637-1645. doi: 10.1177/1359105317694484. Epub 2017 Feb 1.

Abstract

The wellness movement is growing on college campuses; however, the examination of race is lacking. We examined aspects of physical and emotional well-being as a function of race in 197 college students at a predominantly White institution. Results revealed racial differences on diet, F(1, 196) = 7.537, p = 0.007 and resilient coping, F(1, 196) = 8.614, p = 0.004. Furthermore, regression analyses revealed that the association between stress and coping was moderated by race (F(1, 196) = 8.196, p = 0.005), demonstrating that Whites and Blacks experience and cope with stressors in differing ways. Findings of this study suggest that race is an influential factor of wellness and subsequent well-being in college students.

Keywords: coping; health; predominantly White institution; race; wellness.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Black or African American / psychology*
  • Black or African American / statistics & numerical data
  • Diet / methods
  • Diet / psychology
  • Diet / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Health Behavior*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Stress, Psychological / psychology*
  • Students / psychology*
  • Students / statistics & numerical data
  • Universities*
  • White People / psychology*
  • White People / statistics & numerical data
  • Young Adult