s Alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use are major problems in the inner cities, especially for African American youth. Africentric values may be a protective factor for negative drug outcomes. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of Africentric values, spirituality, and demographic variables on drug knowledge, attitudes, and use.

Across varied disciplines, attempts have been made to capture the multidimensionality of Black womanhood under a unifying framework illustrative of Black women's perceived roles, responsibilities, and experiences of intersectional oppression. The result has been the emergence of a number of divergent but overlapping constructs (e.g., Superwoman Schema, Sojourner Truth Syndrome, Sisterella Complex, and Strong Black Woman [SBW] Schema). The goal of our study is to integrate overlapping attributes of existing constructs beneath a single term while also expounding upon the defining characteristics of the SBW Schema. Thematic analyses were conducted with data gathered from eight focus groups with 44 Black women from the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Women ranged in age from 18 to 91 and were diverse in religious and educational backgrounds. Data analysis involved iterative processes (i.e., continuous development of new codes and constant comparison of themes). Prominent themes identified as characteristics of the SBW Schema were (a) Embodies and Displays Multiple Forms of Strength, (b) Possesses Self/Ethnic Pride in Spite of Intersectional Oppression, (c) Embraces Being Every Woman, and (d) Anchored by Religion/Spirituality. Mental and physical health outcomes (e.g., psychological distress, depressive symptomology, obesity, and cardiovascular disease risk) associated with characteristics of the SBW Schema underscore the importance of the construct and its exploration.

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of an intervention on strengthening resiliency among African American preadolescent girls using a relational and Africentric focus. The hypotheses were that significant increases in Africentric values, ethnic identity, gender role beliefs, and self-concept would follow participation in the intervention. The target population was African American girls aged 10 to 12 years considered at risk based on socioeconomic context. Fifty-five girls were in the intervention group, and 92 girls were in the comparison group. Intervention participants met once a week for 2 hours for 4 months and engaged in exercises and activities designed to increase feelings of self-worth, Africentric values, and ethnic and gender identity. Findings from analyses of covariances indicated that intervention participants scored significantly higher on measures of Africentric values, ethnic identity, and physical appearance self-concept than comparison participants at posttest. The implications of the findings for prevention programs are discussed. AUTHORS' NOTE: This research was supported by a grant from the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) (1HD1 SPO7199). This study reports the results from the first phase (Year 1) of a 2½-year longitudinal intervention. Data used in this study were collected from

The relevance of Africentric values and beliefs has been articulated by a number of African American scholars. Moreover, Africentric frameworks have been used in the design and implementation of substance abuse prevention programs. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of Africentric values along with self-esteem and Black identity on drug attitudes amongfifth graders. Measures of Africentric values, self-esteem, and Black identity were obtained from 54 African Americanfifth graders. A regression analysis indicated that Africentric values significantly explained drug attitudes. Self-esteem andiBlack identity were not significant contributors to explaining drug attitudes. Self-esteem and Black identity were significantly related to each other; self-esteem was negatively correlated with Africentric values. The findings of the study are discussed, including the implications for the inclusion of Africentric values when looking at drug attitudes and behaviors.

In this study, the authors evaluated the effectiveness of a cultural intervention for increasing cultural values and beliefs Fifty-nine African American girls in early adolescence participated in a 15-session cultural program or in an activity comparison group Measures of ethnic identity, gender roles, and relational aggression were administered at pretest and posttest There were significant increases in ethnic identity and a marginally significant increase in androgynous gender roles for girls in the intervention group but not the comparison group Findings also revealed that the intervention decreased relational aggression Implications for early adolescent African American girls’participation in culturally enhanced prevention programs are discussed