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We used data from the adult reinterview portion of the National Survey of American Life (Jackson, Torres, et al., 2004) to investigate the relationships of John Henryism Active Coping Scale (James, Hartnett, & Kalsbeek, 1983), Social Dominance, and Stratification Beliefs to depressive symptoms as measured by the Center for Epi-demiologic Studies Depression Scale (Radloff, 1977). Social Dominance and Stratification Beliefs (American Values) were identified from a factor analysis. The results indicate significant interaction effects for John Henryism and American Values for White Americans and Caribbean Blacks but not for African Americans. We found a strong positive effect between John Henryism and depressive symptoms for Whites with high levels of Stratification Beliefs. For Whites with low Stratification Beliefs, depressive symptoms remained constant as John Henryism increased. Among Caribbean Blacks, John Henryism showed a significant interaction with Social Dominance. Among Caribbean Blacks, there was a linear positive relationship between John Henryism and depressive symptoms for all levels of Social Dominance except for those with the highest endorsement for which there was no linear relationship. We discuss the findings within the context of psychosocial risk and protective factors and the need for more research on cultural processes, acculturation, and mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe how self-reported health (SRH) varies with gender and John Henryism (a strong behavioral predisposition to engage in high-effort coping to overcome adversity) in a low income sample of Serbian Roma. Data were collected in 2016 in several Roma settlements around Belgrade, Serbia. The sample consisted of 90 men and 112 women. In addition to John Henryism (JH), measured by a Serbian version of the John Henryism Scale, demographic data and data on SRH and family relationships dynamics were collected. SRH was positively correlated with age and JH, and negatively correlated with a history of chronic disease. Roma males and females differed significantly on JH and a number of other variables. For Roma women, multiple regression analyses revealed that a history of chronic disease, unemployment, age and daily stress level were negatively associated with SRH, while JH, SES and harmonious relationships with one's family/children were positively associated with SRH. For Roma men, there was no association between JH and SRH, but older age, being on welfare, a diagnosis of hypertension and extended family disputes were associated with poorer SRH. Hence, despite economic disadvantage and social exclusion from mainstream society, some Roma report good health and the ability to cope actively with economic disadvantage and social exclusion. This study adds to the literature on the cross-cultural relevance of JH theory for understanding health variations within socially and economically marginalized populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the relationship between John Henryism (a strong behavioral predisposition to engage in high effort coping with difficult barriers to success) and self-reported physical health among high socio-economic (SES) status Asian immigrants to the USA. Cross-sectional data were collected from a community sample of 318 self-identified Chinese and Indian immigrants aged 18-73, averaging 10.2 yr lived in the US. In addition to the John Henryism Active Coping Scale, health status was measured using ordinal ratings of global self-rated health, somatic symptoms and physical health functioning. We also evaluated whether perceived stress would explain the relationship between John Henryism and health. Controlling for demographic factors, regression analyses showed that higher John Henryism significantly predicted better self-rated health and physical functioning, and fewer somatic symptoms. These relationships were significantly and fully mediated (for physical functioning and somatic symptoms) or partially mediated (for self-rated health) by lower perceived stress. Results suggest that John Henryism relates to better health among high SES Asian immigrants in part by reducing perceived stress. To better understand and improve health in all racial/ethnic groups, especially racial minorities and immigrants, more research is needed on John Henryism and perceived stress as important psychosocial mechanisms intervening between environmental exposures and health outcomes.

Black women have disproportionately alarming HSV-2 infection rates yet receive little attention in sexual health literature. Using a strengths-based resilience framework, this study sought to determine culturally relevant protective predictors of self-esteem for Black women who are justice-involved and have HSV-2. The authors conducted secondary data analysis on data from the "Black Women in the Study of Epidemics (B-WISE) Project," a longitudinal prospective study investigating health disparities and health services utilization among Black women with justice involvement. At baseline, N = 151 Black women with HSV-2 who were incarcerated or on probation completed survey measures assessing self-esteem, ethnic identity affirmation and belonging, perceived social support, and John Henryism Active Coping. Hierarchical linear regression analyses revealed ethnic identity affirmation and belonging and John Henryism Active Coping were significant predictors of self-esteem at 6-month follow-up. Implications are provided for current health professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to explore the levels of John Henryism (JH) active coping and its association with acculturation status and psychological health (specifically perceived stress, acculturative stress, anxiety, and depression) in Korean immigrants to the United States. In 102 Korean immigrants, JH active coping was measured by the JH Scale; acculturation by the Bidimensional Acculturation Scale; perceived stress by the Perceived Stress Scale; acculturative stress by the Social, Attitudinal, Familial, and Environmental Scale; anxiety by the State Anxiety Subscale of the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory; and depression by the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. The levels of JH active coping in this sample of Korean immigrants appear to be lower than the levels reported in other racial groups. Independent of demographic factors, JH active coping was a significant predictor of higher acculturation status and better psychological health as indicated by lower levels of perceived stress, acculturative stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To decompose sources of individual differences in coping as measured by John Henryism among African Americans., Methods: Analyses described in this study are based on the pairwise responses from 180 pairs of same-sex, African-American twin pairs who participated in the Carolina African-American Twins Study of Aging (CAATSA). The sample consisted of 85 monozygotic (MZ) and 95 dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs., Results: Environmental factors account for most of the variance (65%) in John Henryism scores, with the remaining variance attributable to additive genetic factors (35%). The test of the genetic component suggested that the 35% represented a statistically significant proportion of variance., Conclusions: The vast majority of recent studies on African Americans and health outcomes have focused on the impact of psychosocial factors on diseases such as hypertension and diabetes, with relatively little attention to possible genetic contributors. Previous research on psychosocial indices and their relationship to cardiovascular health among African Americans has focused on assessment and epidemiological explorations rather than understanding the etiology of variability in such measures.

Background: Relative to other ethnic groups in the United States Blacks have disproportionately higher rates of hypertension. Research suggest that perceived racism might moderate the relation between such Pearson variables as John Henryism and cardiac/vascular functioning., Purpose: This study examined the possible moderating influence of perceived racism on the John Henryism reactivity relation in a sample of 117 Black female college students (M age = 26.10 years, SD = 8.83)., Methods: Blood pressure was measured before and during a speaking task. John Henryism and perceived racism were assessed via self-report., Results: Hierarchial regression analyses revealed that John Henryism was inversely related to systolic blood pressure reactivity (p = .007). These analyses also indicated that John Henryism and perceived racism interacted to predict both systolic (p = .007) and diastolic blood pressure reactivity (p = .0005). Follow-up regression analyses indicated that John Henryism was unrelated to systolic and diastolic blood pressure reactivity for women high in perceived racism (ps > .62) and was inversely associated with systolic and diastolic blood pressure reactivity for women low in perceived racism (ps < .01)., Conclusions: The findings highlight the importance of examining the potential moderating effects of ethnically relevant situation factors when exploring the relation of John Henryism to blood pressure reactivity.

The present study assessed the moderating role of depressive symptomology in the interactive role of John Henryism (i.e., persistent striving with daily psychosocial demands) and father's educational attainment in estimated cardiorespiratory fitness in women. Two hundred one female Midwestern college students completed online psychosocial surveys. Among high-John Henryism women who were depressed, higher father's education levels predicted better fitness. Conversely, higher father's education predicted worse fitness for nondepressed low-John Henryism women. Depression may moderate the role of John Henryism and socioeconomic status in health, with higher John Henryism and education associated with optimal health for depressives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the influence of John Henryism on cardiovascular disease risk factors among black American college students. Mechanism of active coping to control the behavioral stressors of the environment; Adverse health effects in conjunction with limited resources; Increasing of coping resources.

African-American women living in the United States experience higher cardiovascular disease risk (CVD) mortality compared to White women. Unique mechanisms, including prolonged high-effort coping in the face of discriminatory stressors might contribute to these racial disparities. The John Henryism hypothesis is a conceptual framework used to explain poor health outcomes observed among individuals with low resources who repeatedly utilize active coping to overcome barriers. The aims of our study were to summarize the literature related to John Henryism and CVD-related factors with a particular focus on women and to identify gaps for areas of future inquiry. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, and CINAHL to identify literature that used the John Henryism Active Coping scale. Reviewers independently reviewed eligible full-text study articles and conducted data extraction. We qualitatively summarized the literature related to John Henryism and cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related health behaviors (e.g., smoking or physical activity) and risk factors (e.g., hypertension) with a focus on study populations inclusive of women. Our review included 21 studies that used the John Henryism Active Coping scale, of which 10 explicitly reported on the interaction between John Henryism and socioeconomic status (SES) and CVD-related factors. With respect to the original hypothesis, three studies reported results in line with the hypothesis, four were null, and three reported findings in opposition to the hypothesis. The remaining studies included in the review examined the main effects of John Henryism, with similarly mixed results. The literature related to the interaction between John Henryism and SES on CVD-related factors among women is mixed. Additional studies of John Henryism that incorporate biological measures, varied indicators of resources, and larger study populations may illuminate the relationship between coping and deleterious health outcomes among women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Henryism as a construct draws comparisons to what is commonly referred to as respectability politics, or the active adoption of standards rooted in whiteness as a regulatory instrument of one's behavior and emotions. This manuscript will bring Henryism and respectability politics into conversation in an effort to illuminate the paradox of achievement for Black educators and professionals. By examining the experiences of Black women in higher education wrestling with racial battle fatigue, I uncover the essence and possibilities of what E. Frances White calls the 'double-edged nature of the politics of respectability', recognizable as organized anxiety, a discourse of resistance and simultaneously an investment in stereotypes about Black people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

African Americans' rates of hypertension-related morbidity and mortality are several times that of white Americans. A number of behavioral and psychological variables may influence these differences. John Henryism, characterized by active coping to overcome obstacles, is one such variable. Prior research indicates that among highly educated individuals, high levels of John Henryism may be associated with decreased hypertension risk. The purpose of this study was to identify a cohort of well-educated African Americans to establish a baseline examination of the relationships between John Henryism, hostility, perceived stress, social support and resting systolic and diastolic blood pressures (SBP and DBP, respectively). Participants completed measures of study variables and resting blood pressures were taken. Results indicated that high family and friendship support were related to reports of lowered levels of stress (P<.001). Family support was associated with decreased risk for elevated DBP (P<.05). A positive association between hostility and DBP was found (P<.01). Perceived stress was negatively associated with SBP (P<.05), but did not have an independent effect on DBP. Similarly, no interactive effects of John Henryism and perceived stress were found on blood pressure. Examination of this cohort over time will reveal the impact of John Henryism and other variables on blood pressure elevations and hypertension.

John Henry (JH) theory provides a framework for understanding the physiological toll exerted on low socioeconomic status (SES) individuals as they overcome psychosocial stressors imposed by their environments. This theory suggests that resilience, a seemingly positive social adaptation, may in fact be physically deleterious. JH theory has been well-described in low-SES rural male African Americans, however it is currently unclear whether validity of this theory extends to women, other races and outside the rural US. We assessed whether, in individuals with low income, there is an association between self-mastery/resilience and either blood pressure or depressive symptoms that is different from the association seen in individuals with higher income. Data were obtained from 1353 older men and women participants of the International Mobility in Aging Study (IMIAS). Across 3 countries and 4 sites, higher self-mastery/resilience was associated with lower depressive symptoms in both low and high income groups. In low income individuals from Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, higher self-mastery/resilience was associated with both higher mean systolic blood pressure (n = 240, β = 0.135, p ≤ 0.05) and higher mean diastolic blood pressure (n = 240, β = 0.241, p ≤ 0.0001). In the high income group of Saint-Hyacinthe, no such associations were observed. The findings in the Saint-Hyacinthe cohort (but not the other settings), are consistent with the John Henry hypothesis, and demonstrates this effect extends beyond a rural African American population. This finding indicates that in certain populations, the positive psychological effects of resilience come with a cost to physical health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: John Henryism (JH) is a strong behavioral predisposition to engage in high-effort coping with difficult socioenvironmental stressors. We investigated associations between JH and perceived general health (GH) among maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients in a multiracial Brazilian population.Design: The 12-item John Henryism Acting Coping (JHAC) Scale was completed by 525 patients enrolled in The Prospective Study of the Prognosis of Hemodialysis Patients (PROHEMO) in Salvador (Bahia) Brazil. JH scores could range from 12 to 60. The low and high JH groups were determined by a median split (<52 vs ≥52). The 36-Item Short Form Health Survey was used to determine GH score (range 0-100; higher means better health). Linear regression with extensive adjustments was used to test associations.Results: Mean age was 48.3±13.7 years; 38.7% were female; 11.4% were White, 29.1% were Black and 59.4% were mixed race. JH was positively associated with higher GH in the whole sample (adjusted difference [AdjDif]=7.14, 95% CI= 2.98, 11.3) and similarly in men and women. A strong positive association between JH and GH was observed in non-Whites but not in Whites; (AdjDif in Blacks =16.4, 95% CI=8.37, 24.4). Also, a strong positive association between JH and GH was observed for patients aged <60 years (AdjDif =9.04, 95% CI = 4.46, 13.6) but not for older patients.Conclusions: The results indicate that MHD patients engaged in high-effort coping with socioenvironmental stressors as demonstrated by high JH tend to feel more positively about their overall health. This seems to be especially the case for non-White and younger patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

African Americans and ethnic minorities experience racial discrimination in a variety of settings. Racial discrimination is a potent stressor that has been linked to psychosocial stress and poor physical health. To cope with discriminatory experiences and daily life event stressors, African Americans frequently use the concept of John Henryism (a high effort coping strategy with prolonged exposure to stress). This cross-sectional analysis explored the relationship between racism/discrimination, John Henryism, and health problems in a predominately African American sample. Data were collected through health care screenings for hypertension, diabetes, and obesity and a self-report survey to assess experiences of discrimination and use of John Henryism. Logistic and linear regression models were used to assess the relationship between the John Henryism score, racism/discrimination score, and health problems among 352 participants. John Henryism was associated with a decrease in systolic blood pressure (b = − 12.50, 95% CI = − 23.05, − 1.95) among men, after adjusting for experiences of racism/discrimination and demographic characteristics. Experiences of racism/discrimination were associated with an increase in systolic blood pressure (b = 11.23, 95% CI = 0.38, 22.09) among men, after adjusting for John Henryism and demographic characteristics. Among women, there was no association found between John Henryism and experiences of racism/discrimination with systolic blood pressure. No association was found between John Henryism and experiences of racism/discrimination with being overweight/obese in women nor men. The study found that John Henryism was positively associated with the health of men, while experiences of racism/discrimination were negatively associated with their health. Limitations of the study are discussed, and recommendations are made to guide future research exploring the concept of John Henryism as a relevant factor between stress, racial discrimination and poor health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]