Depression, Sociocultural Factors, and African American Women

Abstract

the authors discuss depression in african american women from a sociocultural perspective, including aspects of oppression and racism that affect symptom manifestation. the authors highlight John Henryism as a coping mechanism, the history and continuing role of the african american church as a safe haven, and strategies for culturally competent practice. los autores discuten la depresión en mujeres afroamericanas desde una perspectiva sociocultural, incluyendo los aspectos de opresión y racismo que afectan a la manifestación de los síntomas. los autores destacan el John Henry-ismo como mecanismo de afrontamiento, la historia y el papel constante de la iglesia afroamericana como refugio seguro, y las estrategias para una práctica culturalmente competente. .

Coping with Depression in Single Black Mothers

“…Consistent with theory, black women report the use of a variety of culturally acceptable (Beauboeuf-Lafontant, 2007; Baker & Bell, 1999; Hunn & Craig, 2009) emotion-focused (Folkman et al, 1986) strategies to cope with or manage depressive symptoms (Beauboeuf-Lafontant, 2007, Waite & Killian, 2008, 2009; Ward et al, 2014). However, the sample sizes in the aforementioned studies were small and some samples contained married or partnered black women (Beauboeuf-Lafontant, 2007; Nicoladis et al, 2010; Waite & Killian, 2007, 2008, 2009), black women of high socioeconomic status (Schreiber, Stern, & Wilson, 1998, 2000; Ward et al, 2013), and entire samples of women who were clinically depressed (Nicolaidis et al, 2010; Waite & Killian, 2007, 2008, 2009; Ward et al, 2014), all factors that influence an individual’s coping repertoire (Pearlin & Schooler, 1978).…”

“…According to some theorists, emotion-focused strategies (Folkman & Lazarus, 1980, 1985; Folkman et al, 1986) are culturally sanctioned for coping with depressive symptoms in black women since these women have a cultural mandate to work hard in the face of obstacles (Baker, 1995, 2001; Baker & Bell, 1999; Hunn & Craig, 2009) and show strength under distress and adversity (Beauboeuf-Lafontant, 2007). These expectations often are internalized, causing black women to deny strength-discrepant, weak feelings such as depressive emotions.…”

“…These expectations often are internalized, causing black women to deny strength-discrepant, weak feelings such as depressive emotions. Instead of asking for help or falling apart, they are expected to work through mental and physical distress and deny or hide depressed feelings with quiet acceptance and stoicism (Hunn & Craig, 2009). …”

“…The church often is theorized to be paramount in the psychological preservation of African Americans and a primary source of social support, providing connectedness for African American women (Hunn & Craig, 2009) and helping them to stay strong when experiencing depressive symptoms (Baker, 2001). Daily (2008) discusses the benefits of religious coping, proposing that religious coping may serve as a buffer for African Americans, mediating the relationship between stressors and negative psychological effects.…”

“…A growing body of theoretical literature reveals that culturally influenced ways of coping with depressed feelings may impact the self-recognition of clinically significant depressive symptoms, and the willingness to seek mental health care treatment for depressive symptoms in black women, potentially leading to a higher prevalence of untreated clinical depression in this group (Beauboeuf-Lafontant, 2005, 2007; Hunn & Craig, 2009; Jones & Ford 2008). Despite these facts, a recent search of the literature over the past 20 years produced only one quantitative report in which the investigator examined the most prevalent strategies that large samples of black women used to cope with depressive symptoms (Ward, Wiltshire, Detry, & Brown, 2013).…”