Family adaptability among urban African-American women with hypertension

African-American women are at greater risk than other women for complications related to hypertension. This study examined relationships between hypertension, pulse pressure, body mass index, family adaptability, family cohesion, and social support among 146 urban African-American women. Significant relationships were found between family adaptability and systolic blood pressure (P = 5.03) and between adaptability and pulse pressure (P ≤ .01). Based on study results, practitioners should routinely assess family functioning, specifically family adaptability, in African-American women who are at risk for or diagnosed with hypertension to minimize complications.