A very present help: The role of religious support for Black adolescent girls' mental well‐being

Abstract

This study explored religious emotional support as a mediator of the association between organized religious involvement (ORI) and mental well-being among African American and Caribbean Black girls. Data are drawn from a nationally representative survey of Black adolescents. The sample was composed of African American (n = 412) and Caribbean Black (n = 165) girls, aged 13-17. Structural equation modeling tested direct and indirect effects of ORI on mental well-being, through religious emotional support. For African American girls, ORI was not directly related to any of the mental wellbeing outcomes. Religious emotional support mediated the association between ORI and self-esteem, mastery, and life satisfaction. For Caribbean Black girls, ORI was negatively associated with mastery and life satisfaction.Religious emotional support mediated the association between ORI and life satisfaction. Results suggest that the well-being benefits of ORI for Black girls only remain significant in the presence of religious emotional support and are different for ethnic subgroups.

“What Serves You”: Charting Black Girl Spaces for Wellness through Spirituality, Resistance, and Homeplace

“…Taken together, Black girls in this study recognized that mental health works in tandem with their spiritual wellness. Their descriptions are consistent with previous research identifying religious emotional support (within the religious community and within oneself by being in a relationship with God/higher power; Rose et al, 2021) and religiosity (having a relationship with God; Butler-Barnes et al, 2018) as critical mechanisms that support aspects of Black girls' psychological well-being. In addition, Ayanna's perspective supports Garner's (2019) assertion that spirituality offers a way for "Black girls to exist within hegemonic systems and overcome them by imposing the power that exists within" (p. 119).…”

“…In this study, spirituality laid the foundation to support many Black girls' wellness. However, while previous research has acknowledged the role of religiosity in promoting wellbeing among Black youths (Butler-Barnes et al, 2018;Rose et al, 2021), few studies have considered spirituality a potential asset for Black girls. Our findings corroborate Garner's (2019) assertion that Black girls engage in spiritual practices through creativity and collectivity.…”

The Relationship between Religion, Substance Misuse, and Mental Health among Black Youth

“…Further, this finding is important because other studies suggest variations in results as another study with Black girls in a southern detention facility whose fear of condom use was associated with depressive symptoms ( Waller et al 2022 ). Rose et al (2021) also conducted a study about African American and Caribbean girls’ mental health and religion, i.e., organized religious involvement (ORI), and they found that ORI was not directly related to mental health outcomes for African American girls. Our study results suggest that only the mental well-being and ORI for Black girls remained significant with religious and emotional support though they varied among the ethnic subgroups in the Rose et al (2021) study.…”

“…Further, religious organizations that host networking activities for youth, and organize school and other advocacy efforts such as community protests ( Rhoads 2016 ) positively benefit them. Given the mixed evidence about the role of the church and spirituality for Black youth in promoting coping strategies for social obstacles they face ( Pascaru 2019 ); more research is needed to better understand its role in the social and emotional well-being of Black youth ( Rose et al 2020 ; Rose et al 2021 ).…”

Religious/Spiritual Struggles and Mental Health Among Black Adolescents and Emerging Adults: A Meta-synthesis

“…For example, research, including Black adolescent girls and emerging adult women, has revealed significant relationships between greater religiosity and spirituality and increased psychological well-being (e.g., selfesteem and life satisfaction) and fewer psychopathological symptoms (Ball, et al, 2003;Morrison & Hopkins, 2019;Reed & Neville, 2014). Of note, Rose et al (2021) found some variation among adolescent girls, as religious emotional support was positively related to Black adolescent girls' selfesteem, mastery, and life satisfaction; however, organized religious involvement was not directly related to any mental well-being outcomes. Although qualitative studies have suggested that religiosity/spirituality contributed to psychological well-being among Black adolescent boys and emerging adult men (Barrett, 2010;Dancy, 2010;Herndon, 2003;Riggins et al, 2008), Cokley and colleagues (2013) found that an increase in religious engagement was predictive of lower anxiety and depression for emerging adult Black women, but higher anxiety for emerging adult Black men.…”