This Article Full Text (OnlineFirst PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Christie-Mizell, C. A. Articles by Keith, V. M. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

African Americans and Physical Health: The Consequences of Self-Esteem and Happiness

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: achrist7{at}kent.edu.

	Abstract

This research adds to the literature seeking to clarify the social psychological mechanism through which self-esteem is related to physical health for African Americans. Specifically, this study investigates the relationships among self-esteem, happiness, and physical health limitations for a representative sample of African Americans. Utilizing the Broaden-and-Build Theory of Positive Emotions, these results indicate that the impact of self-esteem on physical health outcomes is mediated by happiness. Interestingly, the positive influence that happiness exerts on physical health is suppressed by age. This study suggests that positive emotions such as happiness are beneficial to outcomes such as physical health by transforming traits such as self-esteem into adaptive capability and personal resources that individuals can use to improve health outcomes.

First published on December 2, 2008
Journal of Black Studies 2008, doi:10.1177/0021934708325457


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?