Protective parenting behavior buffers the impact of racial discrimination on depression among Black youth.

Abstract

The adverse impact of racial discrimination on youth, and particularly its impact on the development of depressive symptoms, has prompted attention regarding the potential for family processes to protect youth from these erosive effects. Evidence from non-experimental studies indicates that protective parenting behavior (PPB) which occurs naturally in many Black families can buffer youth from the negative impact of racial discrimination. Of interest is whether "constructed resilience" developed through family-centered prevention programming can add to this protective buffering. The current paper examines the impact of constructed resilience in the form of increased protective parenting using 295 families randomly assigned either to a control condition or to the Protecting Strong African American Families (ProSAAF) program, a family-based prevention program previously shown to enhance protective parenting. We found that baseline racial discrimination was predictive of change in youths' depressive symptoms across the pre-post study period. Second, we found that parents participating in ProSAAF, relative to those randomly assigned to the control group, significantly improved in their use of an intervention targeting PPB. Third, we found a significant effect of change in PPB on the association of discrimination with change in depressive symptoms. Finally, we found that ProSAAF participation buffered the impact of racial discrimination on change in depressive symptoms through change in PPB. Results provide experimental support for constructed resilience in the form of change in PPB and call for increased attention to the development of familybased intervention programs to protect Black youth from the pernicious effects of racial discrimination.

Longitudinal Effects of Racial Discrimination on Depressive Symptoms Among Black Youth: Between- and Within-Person Effects

“…To address these gaps, the current study used 4 waves of data over 8-month lags from a study of 346 Black youths living in the rural South to test between-and within-person associations between perceived racial discrimination and depressive symptoms over time. We have previously used data from this study to examine between-person effects of discrimination at wave 1 on change in depressive symptoms from wave 1 to wave 2 29 and from wave 2 to wave 3, 30 but have yet to examine between-person associations using all 4 waves of data or in the context of a cross-lagged model, which is necessary to examine the direction of effects and to rule out alternative paths. Additionally, we have not used this dataset to examine within-person concurrent or crosslagged associations, which address different conceptual questions than between-person effects and may demonstrate different patterns of association.…”

Lessons of Resistance from Black Mothers to their Black Sons

“…Despite findings regarding associations between preparation for bias on Black youths’ outcomes being mixed (see Authors, 2006; Umana‐Taylor& Hill, 2020), some studies found that preparation for bias supports Black adolescents' reports of academic competence, positive ethnic‐racial identity, and psychological well‐being (i.e., Friend, Hunter, & Fletcher, 2011; Wang et al., 2020; see Authors, 2006; Francis, Hughes, Watford, & Way, 2021). Further evidence suggests that preparation for bias can serve as a buffer or protection against aggressive behavior and anger or anxiety as a reaction to rejection (Henry, Lambert, & Smith Bynum, 2015; Lei, Lavner, Carter, Hart, & Beach, 2021; Stevenson, 2004). Other studies, in contrast, found preparation for bias may be related to lower academic scores and competency, and increased anxiety and depressive symptoms (Osborn, Venturo‐Conerly, Wasil, Schleider, & Weisz, 2020; see Authors, 2006).…”

Racial Discrimination and Resting-State Functional Connectivity of Salience Network Nodes in Trauma-Exposed Black Adults in the United States

“… 5 The association between racial discrimination and negative health outcomes, such as depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), hypertension, and heart disease, among others, has been well-established. 4 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 Experiences of racial discrimination have also been linked to dysfunction of biological stress response systems, including greater allostatic load 19 , 20 , 21 and shortened telomere length, 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 suggesting an association with premature aging and declining health. Evidence of the association between racial discrimination and negative mental health outcomes has mostly relied on demonstrating this connection through self-reported data.…”

“…In the United States, Black people report the highest levels of exposure to racial discrimination compared with any other racial or ethnic group . The association between racial discrimination and negative health outcomes, such as depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), hypertension, and heart disease, among others, has been well-established . Experiences of racial discrimination have also been linked to dysfunction of biological stress response systems, including greater allostatic load and shortened telomere length, suggesting an association with premature aging and declining health.…”