Scholars have highlighted the detrimental influence of racially charged stereotypes and images on self-perception and well being. Others have suggested that identity components (e.g., ethnic identity and self-concept) serve a protective function. The purposes of this study were (a) to explore the relationship among stereotypic images, beauty standards that are consistent with "colorism," and identity components of African American girls and (b) to determine the impact of these variables on girls' sexual attitudes. African American girls (N = 270) between the ages of 10-15 years old completed a self-report questionnaire, which included a new measure, the Modern Jezebel Scale, that was used to assess stereotypic images. A series of multiple regressions were performed using identity components, stereotypic images, and colorism as independent variables and sexual attitude variables as the outcome. In addition, interaction effects were explored to determine if identity components moderated the influence of stereotypic images and colorism on sexual attitudes. As expected, findings revealed significant positive relationships among stereotypic images, colorism, and sexual risk. In addition, significant interactions were found between identity components and stereotypes. Instead of identity serving as a buffer against the negative effects of societal messages, endorsement of stereotypes and colorism increased sexual risk in the context of identity components. Results suggest that a strong identity may not be enough to reduce sexual risk if girls cannot critically analyze the societal messages that they receive. Implications for prevention efforts are discussed.

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.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship and combined influence of racial identity and Africentric values on African American children's psychosocial adjustment. Participants were 104 (53 males, 51 females) African American fourth-grade students attending an inner-city public school in a northeastern city. Child and teacher ratings were used to assess the relationship between racial identity, Africentric values, and several indices of child psychosocial adjustment, including child behavior control, school interest, and teacher perceptions of child strengths and problems in the classroom. Child self-esteem and the effects of gender and cohort were used as covariates in several analyses in the study. Overall, findings from the study supported the usefulness of combining racial identity and Africentric values into a single model of ethnic identification for African American children. Implications for risk prevention and enhancement of psychosocial functioning among African American children are discussed.

This study examines underlying mechanisms in the relationship between an Africentric worldview and depressive symptoms. Participants were 112 African American young adults. An Africentric worldview buffered the association between perceived stress and depressive symptoms. The relationship between an Africentric worldview and depressive symptoms was mediated by perceived stress and emotion-focused coping. These findings highlight the protective function of an Africentric worldview in the context of African Americans' stress experiences and psychological health and offer promise for enhancing African American mental health service delivery and treatment interventions. KeywordsAfricentric worldview; stress; coping; resilience; depression Worldview-defined broadly as a structure of philosophical assumptions, values, and principles that guides one's perceptions and behaviors (Myers, Montgomery, Fine, & Reese, 1996)-has been linked with indices of psychological adjustment such as emotional states and feelings of well-being (Frank, 1977). As interest in developing culturally relevant frameworks for understanding African Americans has increased over the last 2 decades, an Africentric worldview-a worldview of African origins-has been recognized as a cultural construct with implications for African Americans' stress experiences and health outcomes (e.g., Hatter & Ottens, 1998;Myers et al., 1996). Building on the seminal work of African-centered psychologists who have highlighted the beneficial nature of an Africentric worldview in supporting healthy psychological functioning (e.g., Azibo, 1983;Baldwin & Bell, 1985), contemporary scholars have proposed that an Africentric worldview acts as a protective factor against the harmful effects of stress (e.g., Belgrave, Townsend, Cherry, & Cunningham, 1997;Jackson & Sears, 1992 Despite the promise of an Africentric worldview as a culturally relevant construct for African Americans' mental health, few studies have examined the mechanisms by which it might convey its protective effects. In the present study, we examined the protective nature of an Africentric worldview in the association between perceived stress and psychological functioning in a sample of African American college students. In light of the oft-cited association between stress and depressive symptoms (e.g., Israelski et al., 2007;Shaver & Brennan, 1991), and the heightened risk for depressive symptoms and depression during students' transition to college (Kashani & Priesmeyer, 1983), we focused the investigation on depressive symptoms in first-year college students. A second focus of the study was to examine whether the relationship between an Africentric worldview and depressive symptoms was mediated by stress appraisals and/or coping strategies. The metagoal of these research objectives was to elucidate two mechanisms by which an Africentric worldview might operate to positively influence the mental health of African American young adults. An Africentric WorldviewAccording to Myers (1988), worldviews vary ...

Using a framework of intersectionality and Black feminist thought, this paper provides a conceptual exploration of the socialization process among African American mothers and daughters, with special attention given to the ways in which African American girls become aware of their mother's attitudes and beliefs concerning romantic relationships. Edmondson Bell, E. L., Nkomo, S. M. (1998). Journal of Comparative Family Studies, 29, 285-295 labeled this process armoring. I propose a model of sexual risk for low income African American girls in which the armoring process serves as the focal point. I then provide a conceptual discussion, comparing my proposed model to current social cognitive models in its ability to comprehensively explain the correlates and predictors of sexual behavior among this population. Implications concerning sexual risk prevention efforts are also discussed.