Sources of Stress and Coping Strategies Among Urban African American Adolescents: A Qualitative Study of Child and Caregiver Perspectives

Michelle Estradé, Alexis Lightner, Emma C. Lewis, Elizabeth Adams, Lisa Poirier, Michael T. Smith, Joel Gittelsohn

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Early adolescence is a critical point for intervention to protect against negative consequences of stress on the developing brain. This study aimed to gather perspectives on stress from adolescents and their caregivers living in under-resourced Baltimore City neighborhoods. Nine African American adolescents and their caregivers (n = 18 total) participated in qualitative interviews exploring neighborhood environments, sources of stress, and coping behaviors. Neighborhood social cohesion was described as a strength of participants’ communities, despite concerns about neighborhood safety. Caregivers were highly aware of their child’s stressors and coping behaviors. School-related pressure was a prevalent source of stress emphasized by adolescents, along with social stress due to disrupted routines during the COVID-19 pandemic. Adolescents described frequent use of electronics to cope with stress, as well as self-care and relaxation techniques. Themes identified from these data can be used to inform future adolescent stress-reduction interventions and stress-prevention efforts in this priority population.

Original languageEnglish (US)
JournalJournal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities
DOIs
StateAccepted/In press - 2024

Keywords

  • Adolescent health
  • Baltimore
  • Built environment
  • Coping
  • COVID-19
  • Stress
  • Urban

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Health(social science)
  • Anthropology
  • Sociology and Political Science
  • Health Policy
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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