Social Ecology of Interpersonal Stress

​This study examines the theoretically driven, but previously untested, hypothesis that exposure to high agency (control, dominance) and low communion (hostility, low warmth) in daily interactions vary as a function of race and socioeconomic position, characterize discrimination, and contribute to greater stress in Black Americans and individuals of lower socioeconomic position. To this end we test: 1) whether the prevalence of exposure to high agency and low communion differs by race and/or socioeconomic position, 2) whether discriminatory experiences share a common interpersonal signature characterized by exposure to high agency and/or low communion, and 3) whether high agency and low communion in everyday interactions contribute to psychological stress. This comprehensive approach aims to provide a deeper understanding of the interpersonal dynamics of differential social treatment and their impact on stress across different demographic groups.​