Can A High Sense of Control and John Henryism be Bad for Mental Health?
Abstract
Social stratification profoundly affects mental health. Specifically, substantial empirical evidence finds that higher status promotes mental health via a higher sense of control and a propensity to cope actively with problems. An unresolved issue, though, is whether the effects of sense of control and active coping on mental health are uniformly beneficial across levels of socioeconomic status. Perceived control and John Henryism, an active coping style, may undermine mental health, especially for lower-status persons, who lack resources. Using data from the National Comorbidity Survey for African Americans, Hispanics, and whites, we find that both sense of control and John Henryism tend to be monotonically related to positive mental health regardless of socioeconomic status and race/ethnicity.
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John Henryism may improve mental health by promoting hard work, determination, and a sense of control or mastery over one's environment.
“John Henryism may have a positive impact on mental health by promoting hard work, determination, and a sense of control or mastery over one’s environment (e.g., Kiecolt et al., 2009).”
From Impostor Phenomenon and Psychological Well-Being: The Moderating Roles of John Henryism and School Racial Composition Among Black College Students (2020) · cites this paper as Kiecolt et al., 2009
High John Henryism has been linked to higher self-esteem and fewer depressive symptoms and less psychological distress among Black men and women.
“high levels of John Henryism have been linked to increases in self-esteem (Stevens-Watkins et al., 2014) and reductions in depressive symptoms and psychological distress among Black men and women (Bronder et al., 2014; Hill & Hoggard, 2018; Kiecolt et al., 2009; Matthews et al., 2013).”
From Impostor Phenomenon and Psychological Well-Being: The Moderating Roles of John Henryism and School Racial Composition Among Black College Students (2020) · cites this paper as Kiecolt et al., 2009
Evidence suggests John Henryism benefits mental health but may harm physical health.
“Thus, evidence suggests that John Henryism is beneficial for mental health but potentially detrimental for physical health”
From Is John Henryism a Health Risk or Resource?: Exploring the Role of Culturally Relevant Coping for Physical and Mental Health among Black Americans. (2021) · cites this paper as Kiecolt et al. 2009
Kiecolt, Hughes, and Keith (2009) found that higher John Henryism was linked to better mental health among low-SES Black Americans.
“Kiecolt, Hughes, and Keith (2009) found that elevated levels of John Henryism are linked to improved mental health for low socioeconomic status (SES) Black Americans.”
From Is John Henryism a Health Risk or Resource?: Exploring the Role of Culturally Relevant Coping for Physical and Mental Health among Black Americans. (2021) · cites this paper as Kiecolt, Hughes, and Keith (2009)
Prior work indicates that psychosocial resources like mastery and John Henryism may have a threshold beyond which their effects become dysfunctional.
“Prior research suggests that a “threshold for dysfunction” is possible when assessing the efficacy of psychosocial resources such as mastery and John Henryism”
From Is John Henryism a Health Risk or Resource?: Exploring the Role of Culturally Relevant Coping for Physical and Mental Health among Black Americans. (2021) · cites this paper as Kiecolt et al. 2009
Although higher levels of psychosocial resources are generally beneficial for health, the association may not be linear.
“although studies indicate that higher levels of psychosocial resources are beneficial for health, this association may not be linear”
From Is John Henryism a Health Risk or Resource?: Exploring the Role of Culturally Relevant Coping for Physical and Mental Health among Black Americans. (2021) · cites this paper as Kiecolt et al. 2009
High-effort coping simultaneously helps individuals effectively manage stressful experiences.
“while simultaneously helping individuals to effectively manage stressful experiences (Kiecolt et al. 2009).”
From Is John Henryism a Health Risk or Resource?: Exploring the Role of Culturally Relevant Coping for Physical and Mental Health among Black Americans. (2021) · cites this paper as Kiecolt et al. 2009
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“…years, however, substantial evidence has accumulated that indicates that social class affects mental health because higher-status persons encounter fewer stressful events and circumstances, and because they have higher levels of personal resources for coping with these stressors (Pearlin 1989).”
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Racial Identity and Well-Being among African Americans
Hughes, M., Kiecolt, K. J., Keith, V. M., & Demo, D. H. (2015) · Social Psychology Quarterly · doi:10.1177/0190272514554043 · Cited by 203 · see citing works
Self-citationJohn Henryism, depression, and perceived social support in black women
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“For black Americans in particular, high levels of John Henryism may provide the fortitude to overcome the daily challenges associated with living in the racialized society of the United States (Hudson et al. 2016; James 1994, 2019; Kiecolt et al. 2009).”
BackgroundInfluentialBernard, D. L., Jones, S. C. T., & Volpe, V. V. (2020) · Journal of Black Psychology · doi:10.1177/0095798420924529 · Cited by 66 · see citing works
“John Henryism may have a positive impact on mental health by promoting hard work, determination, and a sense of control or mastery over one’s environment (e.g., Kiecolt et al., 2009).”
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Jones, S. C. T., Brooks, J. H., Milam, A. J., Barajas, C. B., LaVeist, T. A., Kane, E., & Furr‐Holden, C. D. M. (2019) · Journal of Community Psychology · doi:10.1002/jcop.22168 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
“, 2001), as well as compromised behavioral health (i.e., psychological disorders and substance abuse; Hudson et al., 2016; Kiecolt et al., 2009).”
Background
- Authors
- Kiecolt, K. J., Hughes, M., & Keith, V. M.
- Affiliations
- Virginia Tech (US)
- Florida State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Kiecolt, K. Jill
- Venue
- The Sociological Quarterly
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2009-09-01
- Volume
- 50
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 693-714
- ISSN
- 0038-0253 (ISSN-L)
- 1533-8525
- OpenAlex
- W1965543476
- Cited by
- 78
- References
- 10
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 7
- FWCI
- 3.44
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Sociological Quarterly (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Health › Health disparities and outcomes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Resilience and Mental Health
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Racial and Ethnic Identity Research
- Keywords
- perceived control, John Henryism, mental health, socioeconomic status, social stratification, active coping, race and ethnicity, African Americans, Hispanic Americans, National Comorbidity Survey
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