Incense, candles may not relieve stress

COLUMBIA, S.C., July 13 (UPI) -- African-American women may actually increase their race-related stress instead of easing it by using incense or lighting a candle, U.S. researchers say.

Study author Tawanda Greer of University of South Carolina says the study looked at various methods of coping with the effects of race-related stress among African-American women and coping strategies were categorized as:

-- Collective-centered coping, such as asking for advice from elders or the community.

-- Cognitive-emotional coping, such as seeking out people who could draw out emotions like laughter or happiness.

-- Spiritual-centered coping, such as prayer.

-- Ritual-centered coping, such as lighting a candle.

The study, published in the Psychology of Women Quarterly, showed that the use of one particular method of coping, ritual-centered coping, increased stress levels.

"I expected that higher use of coping efforts would reduce the severity of psychological outcomes associated with individual race-related stress," Greer says in a statement.

"African American women are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of race-related stress, given their socially constructed identities as African-Americans and as women. Thus, it is critical to the overall well-being of African American women that coping efforts are identified that assist in alleviating the psychological impacts associated with race and the intersection of race- and gender-related challenges."