Social support buffering of the relation between low income and elevated blood pressure in at-risk African-American adults

Socioeconomic disadvantage has been linked to elevated blood pressure (BP), and the purpose of this study was to assess whether interpersonal social supports buffer these adverse relations in African-American adults. In three communities matched demographically, a subsample of participants ( N = 204) of the Positive Action for Today’s Health trial provided measures of perceived social support, annual household income, and BP. Multiple regression analyses with cross-product interactions were conducted using follow-up data. The sample had a mean age of 52.8 years ( SD = 15.1), and was predominantly female (66 %) with a high body mass index ( M = 33.5, SD = 14.7). Results indicated an inverse relation between social support and diastolic BP ( B = −.178, p = .005), and also an interaction with income ( p = .046), such that higher social support related to lower diastolic BP in the lowest-income individuals ( B = −1.05). The same direct ( B = −.141, p = .025) and interacting ( B = −1.42, p = .040) social support effects were present for systolic BP, however the omnibus model for systolic BP was not significant, F (6, 196) = 1.80, p = .09. The hypothesized buffering effect of social support on the adverse relation of income to BP was partially supported in at-risk African-American adults. Future prevention efforts for reducing the impact of socioeconomic stress on BP may aim to increase perceptions of social support.