"I'm Black and I'm Stressed": An Exploratory Literature Review on Stress and Coping Mechanisms Among African Americans, Afro-Caribbean, and African Immigrants in the USA

Objectives: Black individuals in the USA face disproportionate stress-mediated health conditions like obesity and hypertension. Traditional health research has often homogenized Black subpopulations, masking unique health trends among African immigrants, Afro-Caribbean immigrants, and African Americans. This study addresses this gap by exploring distinct and shared stressors and coping mechanisms within these groups. Design: An exploratory review was conducted using several databases to identify relevant literature on stress and coping strategies among African Americans, Afro-Caribbean immigrants, and African immigrants. Results: The review found that all three groups experience stress related to racism, unfair treatment, and cultural differences. African Americans primarily face stress from racism and discrimination, while African and Afro-Caribbean immigrants often deal with acculturation and immigration-related stress. Despite these differences, shared coping strategies among all three subgroups include religiosity and social connections. Additionally, distinct stressors and coping mechanisms unique to each group were identified, highlighting the need for tailored, culturally sensitive interventions. Conclusion: African Americans, Afro-Caribbean immigrants, and African immigrants encounter unique stressors that contribute to poor health outcomes. However, they employ similar coping strategies. Further research is needed to focus on stress, coping mechanisms, and health outcomes to develop culturally sensitive interventions that reinforce healthy coping strategies and promote health equity among Black subpopulations.