The current study adds to our understanding of race and family relationships by examining racial differences in exposure and reactivity to the naturally occurring stressors of family life. Our results revealed no racial differences in family stressor exposure, suggesting that family stressors may be an inevitable byproduct of all family relationships regardless of racial background. As anticipated, African Americans were more physically reactive to arguments involving family, and this endured into the next day. Unexpectedly, there were fewer racial differences in emotional reactivity, although the negative feelings associated with family arguments were more enduring for African Americans. Overall, our findings provided more support for racial similarities than differences in the daily family stress process, indicating that family relationships may be a universal source of stress that transcends race. Still, African Americans’ greater physical reactivity and prolonged reactivity suggest that the significance of family in African Americans’ lives may still contribute to their health disadvantage.
