The Link between Mastery and Depression among Black Adolescents; Ethnic and Gender Differences

Abstract

Purpose: Although the link between depression and lower levels of mastery is well established, limited information exists on ethnic and gender differences in the association between the two. The current study investigated ethnic, gender, and ethnic by gender differences in the link between major depressive disorder (MDD) and low mastery in the United States. Methods: We used data from the National Survey of American Life-Adolescent supplement (NSAL-A), 2003–2004. In total, 1170 Black adolescents entered the study. This number was composed of 810 African-American and 360 Caribbean Black youth (age 13 to 17). Demographic factors, socioeconomic status (family income), mastery (sense of control over life), and MDD (Composite International Diagnostic Interview, CIDI) were measured. Logistic regressions were used to test the association between mastery and MDD in the pooled sample, as well as based on ethnicity and gender. Results: In the pooled sample, a higher sense of mastery was associated with a lower risk of MDD. This association, however, was significant for African Americans but not Caribbean Blacks. Similarly, among African American males and females, higher mastery was associated with lower risk of MDD. Such association could not be found for Caribbean Black males or females. Conclusion: Findings indicate ethnic rather than gender differences in the association between depression and mastery among Black youth. Further research is needed to understand how cultural values and life experiences may alter the link between depression and mastery among ethnically diverse Black youth.

Depressive Symptoms and Self-Esteem in White and Black Older Adults in the United States

“…Although there is considerable research showing an effect of depression on self-esteem [ 4 ] and mastery [ 5 ], relation quality with others [ 6 ], and hopelessness [ 7 ], these effects are not universal across races/ethnicities. For instance, depression differently impacts positive emotions and cognitions such as self-esteem [ 4 , 8 , 9 ], hope [ 12 ], positive emotions [ 13 ], and mastery [ 10 , 11 ] in diverse racial groups. For instance, depression has smaller effects on mastery [ 10 , 11 ] and hope [ 12 ] in Blacks than Whites.…”

“…For instance, depression differently impacts positive emotions and cognitions such as self-esteem [ 4 , 8 , 9 ], hope [ 12 ], positive emotions [ 13 ], and mastery [ 10 , 11 ] in diverse racial groups. For instance, depression has smaller effects on mastery [ 10 , 11 ] and hope [ 12 ] in Blacks than Whites.…”

“…Built on the Differential Effects hypothesis [ 27 , 28 ] and to replicate and extend the results of previous studies on this topic [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ], this study explored racial variations in the association between depressive symptoms at baseline and subsequent decline in self-esteem among older Americans. Differential Effects hypothesis suggests that psychosocial risk and protective factors have smaller effects on behavioral and health outcomes for non-Whites (minorities) than Whites (the majority) [ 27 , 28 ].…”

“…This is supported by the extensive research that has documented lower levels of self-esteem, self-efficacy, mastery (evaluation of self) [ 4 , 5 ], relations quality (evaluation of others) [ 6 ], and hopelessness (evaluation of future) [ 7 ] among individuals with clinical or sub-clinical depression. These associations may, however, differ across various racial groups [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ].…”

“…Although not all studies agree [ 8 , 9 ], a number of recent studies have suggested that Beck’s theory of depression is more relevant to Whites than Blacks [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ]. In the presence of depression, Blacks may maintain higher levels of mastery (evaluation of self) and hope (evaluation of future) compared to Whites [ 12 , 13 ].…”