which the presence of cultural, SES, psychosocial, religious and other resources can weaken the health effects of certain risk factors. Research should also examine the extent to which observed racial variations in the effects of risk factors are similar to SES differences. Earlier research on stress and health found that although both blacks and low SES persons were more exposed to stress than whites and high SES individuals, comparable stressors had a more adverse effect on the mental health of both socially disadvantaged groups.38 More generally, these patterns of findings highlight the importance of attending not only variations in exposure to risk factors but also to variations in vulnerability as reflected in both differential preparedness for coping with adversity and differential ability to recover.39
