The culturally approved coping strategy of extra striving can carry physical health costs

Evidence

Directly consistent with Allport’s views, many minority groups in the United States endorse hard work and determination as a means of overcoming their minority status (Kleugal & Smith, 1986). This value is reflected in the African American community in the legendary story of John Henry, a nineteenth-century steel driver, who beat a machine in a steel-driving competition only to drop dead of exhaustion. A dispositional preference to work harder to achieve success and advancement, despite sometimes overwhelming obstacles, has been called “john-henryism” ( James, Hartnett, & Kalsbeek, 1983). Research linking john-henryism to hypertension among African Americans suggests that adopting this coping strategy may be physically harmful, even though it may indeed be the coping strategy most approved of in society ( James, Hartnett, & Kalsbeek, 1983). — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 965 (#expands, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: The most socially approved coping strategy against prejudice carries physical health costs; The culturally approved coping response to stigma can damage physical health; The approved minority coping strategy of hard striving can be physically harmful via hypertension — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 965 (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• The most socially approved coping strategy against prejudice carries physical health costs #corroborates (1.00)
• The culturally approved coping response to stigma can damage physical health #corroborates (1.00)
• The approved minority coping strategy of hard striving can be physically harmful via hypertension #expands (0.97) — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 965