Predictors of Individual Resilience: Gender Differences among African Americans

ABSTRACT

Objective: This study sought to investigate similarities and differences in resilience among African American females and males living in areas impacted by the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and their ability to conserve resources. Methods: This research utilized a cross sectional design with 4,664 African American adults. Results: Standard multiple regression models indicated African American females had higher levels of individual resilience compared to lower levels of resilience amongst males. Differences in resource loss included depression and anxiety. Differences in resource protection included mental health status. Conclusions: Conservation of Resources theory provides a necessary understanding of these findings within a resource loss and gain model for socially vulnerable and marginalized populations impacted by disaster. Further results and implications for social work practice are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Resilience
• self-mastery
• disaster
• African American