ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the author attempts to provide as much factual material as possible in terms of the relationship between blood pressure and psychosocial variables implicated in initiating and/or sustaining hypertension among black Americans. Several investigators have researched the role of environmental stressors and increased risk of hypertension. The relationship between hypertension and socioeconomic status among parents of the black female college students was assessed by a questionnaire administered to the students. The students were asked to report on their parents' educational level, income, cigarette smoking status, hypertension history, and occupational status. With respect to occupational status of parents, three categories were included. "Blue collar" workers included those engaged in service occupations, fabricators, laborers, and operators. "White collar" workers included those engaged in technical, sales, administrative support, managerial, and professional occupations. The third category included home-makers, unemployed persons, and retired persons.
