The Impact of Racial Discrimination and Coping Strategies on Internalizing Symptoms in African American Youth

Abstract

The current study examined the impact of racial discrimination stress on internalizing symptoms and coping strategies in a sample of 268 African American early adolescents (mean age = 12.90; 56% female) from low-income communities. Information about discrimination stress, coping, and internalizing symptoms was obtained via adolescents' self-report. It was predicted that discrimination stress would be positively associated with depression and anxiety, as well as culturally-specific coping. Finally, culturally-relevant coping and mainstream coping were examined as moderators of the association between discrimination stress and internalizing symptoms. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that discrimination stress was positively associated with depression and anxiety and predicted culturally-relevant coping while controlling for mainstream coping. Communalistic coping moderated the association between discrimination and anxiety, but demonstrated a vulnerability function by increasing anxiety at high levels of discrimination. The results highlight the salience of racial discrimination for African American adolescents and the importance of considering culturally-specific coping behaviors.

Revisão sistemática dos estudos epidemiológicos sobre discriminação interpessoal e saúde mental

“…Em seguida, excluíram-se mais quatro artigos, após a leitura de seus conteúdos na ín-tegra, por não se tratarem de estudos originais ou não apresentarem medida de discriminação interpessoal autorrelatada como a principal exposição. Esse processo resultou em 34 estudos 15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35 . Adolescentes e adultos representaram a faixa etária estudada em 44% dos trabalhos (n = 12), apenas adolescentes 11% (n = 3) e crianças, adolescentes e adultos 11% (n = 3).…”

Association Between Perceived Discrimination and Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Problem Behaviors Among Preadolescent Youths

“…Nevertheless, a relatively small amount of research has examined health effects of discrimination for children and adolescents. [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] This work, which has primarily focused on Black youth, has shown relationships between discrimination and greater externalizing symptoms (i.e., problem behaviors), 9,10,16,19,20 internalizing symptoms (anxiety, depression), 9,11,14,15,[21][22][23][24] and substance use. 12,13 Little is known regarding whether Latino youth similarly experience mental health deficits following discrimination.…”

Do not forget culture when implementing mental health interventions for violence survivors

“…It has been demonstrated that religious or spiritual coping may increase optimism and provide a cognitive framework for understanding stressful situations and confronting adversity 21 . Community coping moderates the association between adverse events and anxiety, but shows a negative result (increased anxiety) at high levels of discrimination and stress 16 . While it provides an explanation for re-experiencing discriminatory or co-rumination stressors, findings in Buenaventura and Quibdó confirm a positive effect and a need for the recovery of these coping strategies in Afro-Colombian communities 22 .…”

“…Afro-descendant communities of Buenaventura and Quibdó have addressed their mental health needs using ancestral wisdom and traditions. Evidence has shown that cultural beliefs, behaviors, and practices of Afro-descendants are positive in the adaptation against risk and adversity [16][17][18] . These factors reduce the risk of stress, and the literature has indicated how specific cultural factors contribute significantly to the prediction of the quality of life beyond the factors' effects (also significant) of traditional coping (active, avoidance, distraction, and seeking support) in African Americans 17 .…”