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Using data from the 1990 Census of Population and Housing, the relationship between socioeconomic status and residential distribution was examined for the black population in four Virginia cities, Lynchburg, Roanoke, Norfolk, and Richmond. Three indexes were employed to measure degrees of segregation at the census tract level. These indexes were, dissimilarity, interaction, and isolation. The dissimilarity index is a measure of the evenness of residential distribution of minority members. The interaction index is a measure of the probability of minority residential contact with majority members. The isolation index is a measure of the probability of residential isolation of minority members. Census tracts were classified according to the extent of racial changes that took place in these tracts. Socioeconomic status of black residents was measured over two dimensions: education and income. The association between minority socioeconomic achievement and degrees of segregation was estimated with multiple regression. A majority of the regression results supported the human ecology theory that minority spatial assimilation is an outcome of socioeconomic achievements. Findings also suggested that the relationship between minority socioeconomic status and degrees of segregation did not vary in strength in the hierarchical pattern predicted by previous human ecology studies of segregation. The findings provide a minor departure from the traditional theory of human ecology. The regression models estimating the effects of socioeconomic variables on residential dissimilarity and residential isolation showed statistical significance. The regression models estimating the effects of socioeconomic variables on residential contact did not show statistical significance. This might suggest that present measures of residential segregation and socioeconomic status need to improved. / Master of Science

Hypertension is a major chronic health problem that can lead to heart attack, stroke, and kidney failure. African Americans disproportionately suffer from the morbidity and mortality of hypertension-related illnesses. The purpose of this comparative project was to determine the impact of peer support educational workshops as an avenue for lifestyle modification, using changes in blood pressure (BP) before and after participation. The target population consisted of 64 African Americans with hypertension in Brooklyn NY, aged 20 to 65 years old. BP measurements were taken within 1 month before and after participating in a weekly peer support educational workshop facilitated by designated healthcare providers. The health belief model, using the tenets of lifestyle modification, societal support and health education, was used to guide the study. Demographic data were collated and categorized, considering numeric values used to represent age, income level, and education. Normality testing of the study variables was performed to ensure that the data followed a normal distribution. The study variables included the pre- and post-test systolic and diastolic BP. A t test was used in order to compare the 2 groups, revealing a statistically lower significant score from African Americans who participated than those who did not. African Americans who adhered to peer support educational regimens in the workshops revealed a statistically significant lower diastolic BP than those who did not participate. This research contributes to social change by providing evidence-based recommendations that government and health care professionals may use to create strategic plans to promote the well-being of individuals and communities.