The participants were 159 African American adults recruited from the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. A
total of 32 participants were excluded from the analyses due to missing data. There were 76 males and 83 females
that remained. Participants were enrolled in a larger study that examined the relationship between stress and
psychoneuroimmunological factors and renal health outcomes in a community-based sample of AAs. Recruitment
took place at local community events, churches, and health fairs as well as through recruitment of non-patient
individuals at the University hospital. Exclusion criteria included a recent history of drug abuse or psychiatric
illness.