The Role of Coping in the Relationship Between Endorsement of the Strong Black Woman Schema and Depressive Symptoms Among Black Women

Jones, Mark S.; Hill‐Jarrett, Tanisha G.; Latimer, Kyjeila; Reynolds, Akilah; Garrett, Nekya; Harris, Ivyonne; Joseph, Stephanie St.; Jones, Alexis

doi:10.1177/00957984211021229

Cited by 16 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…The construct is more nuanced than previously thought. For instance, several recent studies linked SBW exclusively to negative outcomes such as depression (see, e.g., Jones et al, 2021; Liao et al, 2020), while the current study found the three components of the stereotype—Mask of Strength, Self-Reliance, and Caretaking—functioned differently in their relation to actual help-seeking and intention to seek help. While SBW self-endorsement overall did not significantly predict actual help-seeking or intention to seek help, post-hoc analyses indicated higher endorsement of the Caretaking subscale related to greater actual help-seeking and higher endorsement of the Mask of Strength subscale related to less actual help-seeking and intention to seek help.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 61%

Trauma, Help-Seeking, and the Strong Black Woman

White

Swan

Smith

2023

Journal of Black Psychology

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Research suggests when confronted with hardship, Black women in the United States seek help less than other. This finding may be explained by the cultural stereotype of the Strong Black Woman (SBW). SBW consists of three factors: Mask of Strength, Self-Reliance/Strength, and Caretaking. The current study examined the connection between self-endorsement of SBW and help-seeking behavior and intention, following a traumatic event for Black college women. The SBW full scale was not significantly related to actual help-seeking or intention to seek help. However, post-hoc analyses indicated the three SBW subscales had both positive and negative effects. Greater endorsement of the Caretaking and Self-Reliance subscales positively predicted actual help-seeking and formal actual help-seeking, respectively. However, greater endorsement of the Mask of Strength subscale predicted less help-seeking and fewer intentions to seek help. The findings indicated a more nuanced approach may be needed when studying SBW or working in clinical settings. It may be helpful to bolster aspects of the stereotype, such as the desire to be a good caretaker, while redefining other aspects, such as emotional invulnerability.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 61%

Trauma, Help-Seeking, and the Strong Black Woman

White

Swan

Smith

2023

Journal of Black Psychology

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“…Second, several psychological factors have been found to mediate connections from SBW endorsement to Black U.S. women's mental health, including decreased perceived emotional support, a disengagement coping style (i.e., attempts to distance oneself from the stressor), and self-silencing (Abrams et al, 2019;Jones, Hill-Jarrett, et al, 2021;Watson-Singleton, 2017). In a complex mediation analyses, Liao et al (2020) tested each of the following as direct or serial mediators of the link between SBW and mental health (depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, loneliness):…”

Section: Moderators and Mediatorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many quantitative studies report SBW is negatively related to well‐being and coping behaviors (Jones, Hill‐Jarrett, et al., 2021; Liao et al., 2020; Nelson et al., 2022). However, the qualitative work on SBW and mental health is mixed.…”

Section: Impacts Of the Sbw On Black Womenmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Using a sample of Black female college students of various ethnicities, they found both moderate and high levels of endorsement were related to increases in the relation between stress and depressive symptoms. Multiple quantitative studies have found that increased support for the SBW schema is associated with greater depressive symptoms among Black U.S. women (Jones, Hill‐Jarrett, et al., 2021; Watson & Hunter, 2015), as well as higher anxiety and problems regulating emotions (Watson & Hunter, 2015). In a qualitative study on the influence of strength on depressive symptoms, Black U.S. women with a high level of schema endorsement reported an increased likelihood of experiencing stress and depressive symptoms (Abrams et al., 2019).…”

Section: Impacts Of the Sbw On Black Womenmentioning

confidence: 99%

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25 years of psychology research on the “strong black woman”

Thomas

Banks

Eaton

et al. 2022

Social & Personality Psych

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The Strong Black woman (SBW) schema refers to the U.S. cultural gender role expectation of Black women as resilient despite adversity, selfless, and serving as caretakers and providers. Previous scholars have examined the nature, origins, and consequences of this schema, including the ways in which Black women navigate the SBW in their workplaces, communities, and relationships. Overall, research frames the schema as a paradox, noting that endorsing the SBW can compromise Black women's health while simultaneously encouraging resilience. In this review, we aim to provide a descriptive and holistic analysis for understanding gaps in the literature, as well as providing suggestions for the future. Using a scoping review, we examine the current state of social science knowledge about the SBW, focusing on its character, socialization practices, and consequences for Black women's physical and mental health. We end by discussing directions for future research on the SBW schema.

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“…From the year 1619 (Hannah- Jones, et al, 2021;Olusoga, 2016) to 1783, African chattel slavery had been operating in "America" under British Rule for the first 164 years 14 , during a time when the English dominated the African slave trade. Throughout that period, my British ancestor's progeny largely participated in politics, government, military, and agriculturein the New World; and, they also participated in the horrific and inhumane practices of African chattel slavery, as evidenced by their slave schedules, against my African and Indigenous ancestors, for centuries across multiple generations.…”

Section: Researcher's Ancestral Connections To the Us And Ukmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forget me not: demarginalising trailblazing and leading Black women’s WEIRD industrial, organisational, and societal career experiences with “power” in the world’s top music industry ecosystems

Blackwell¹

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Governments in the UK and US passed a slew of acts and laws, from 1960s onward, to prohibit discriminatory practices aimed at marginalised groups, across business and society. Despite these landmark rulings, it is still the case that ideological, institutional, interpersonal, and internalised acts of dehumanisation continue to permeate WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized [sic], Rich, and Democratic) consciousness, perceived-to-be justifiable behaviours, as well as (dysfunctional) ways of relating within cultural paradigms, as (nonaccountability) being ascribed to “social norms”. By framing this groundbreaking IO psychological research project, within multiple wider social contexts, while also centring the implications of “human (business) practices” in the music industry, I sought to cross-culturally examine trailblazing and leading UK and US Black women’s industrial, organisational, and societal career experiences, in this “equality” era. Accordingly, I developed this project from the specific lenses of Black women navigating “power”, “identity politics”, the “politics of identity” and the implications of social constructs, in the, purported-to-be, egalitarian, top- performing music industry ecosystems of the world. In commissioning both intersectionality theory (IT) and, what I will name, an “intrasectional” conceptual framework – a hybrid critical realist ontology and Black feminist epistemology (BFE), where reflexivity would be valued, were ultimately chosen to guide the methodological choices. Also, as narrative research is critical to understanding “lived experiences”, (a criterion in BFE), this thesis leaned towards a Big Q qualitative model, incorporating a multimethod design, featuring two reflexive thematic analyses, using archival data, for Study 1 (n=9 industry trailblazers), to inform the approach for in- depth semi-structured interviews, for Study 2 (n=12 industry leaders). Based on the findings, the themes I generated from Study 1 and Study 2, strongly indicate that Black women’s systemic WEIRD MIE career experiences, are an alarming cause for concern, as the negative workplace issues they tend to encounter fit the criteria of a “humanitarian crisis”, by the UN’s standards, which deserves macro-contexts, urgent attention, and a call- to-action for stakeholder and organisational interventions, as Black women spoke to themes of workplace abuse and incivility, prolonged poor mental and physical health outcomes, other forms of multidimensional exploitation, as well as experiences with disconnection, and barriers at every level in their careers, in the relationship-driven music industry. As these outcomes adversely impacted the pace and progression, as well as trajectories, of their careers across the multisectoral and occupational spectrums in the MIEs, this thesis sought to explore how and why, adding an original contribution to knowledge in psychology through this niche exploration.

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The Role of Coping in the Relationship Between Endorsement of the Strong Black Woman Schema and Depressive Symptoms Among Black Women

Cited by 16 publications

References 25 publications

Trauma, Help-Seeking, and the Strong Black Woman

Trauma, Help-Seeking, and the Strong Black Woman

25 years of psychology research on the “strong black woman”

Forget me not: demarginalising trailblazing and leading Black women’s WEIRD industrial, organisational, and societal career experiences with “power” in the world’s top music industry ecosystems

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