Physical Limitations, Health Rumination/Worry, and Depressive Symptoms: Gender Differences among African Americans

Abstract

Although studies have documented the relationships between physical health, health rumination/worry, and mental health, few investigations have assessed these linkages within African American communities. Using a community-based sample of residents in historically lower-income, African American communities (N = 306), this study assesses the mediating role of health rumination/worry in the physical limitation-depressive symptom relationship, and the moderating effect of gender on the relationship between health rumination/worry-depressive symptoms. Findings demonstrate that health rumination/worry explains half of the physical limitation-depressive symptom relationship, and the relationship between health rumination/worry and depressive symptoms is stronger for African American men than women. The findings underscore the importance of intersectional research for policy efforts aimed at reducing mental health morbidities within African American communities.

Keywords: African Americans; Mental health; Physical health; Rumination/worry; gender.