Development and validation of the African American Women’s Shifting Scale (AAWSS).

Johnson, Jacquelyn C.; Gamst, Glenn; Meyers, Lawrence S.; Arellano‐Morales, Leticia; Shorter-Gooden, Kumea

doi:10.1037/cdp0000039

Cited by 25 publications

(60 citation statements)

References 95 publications

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“…In particular, shifting included altering their behavior, mannerisms, or appearance to fit in with White Americans, as well as altering their speech or topic of conversations. A second aspect of shifting also included sensitivity to the perceptions of other African Americans (Johnson et al, 2016). African American women may submerge their abilities, accomplishments, and strengths to support African American men or engage in certain behaviors to avoid accusations from community and family members that they “sold out” (Johnson et al, 2016; Jones & Shorter-Gooden, 2003).…”

Section: Shiftingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, Jones and Shorter-Gooden (2003) found that shifting was associated with emotional eating, compulsive shopping, and substance use, as well as anxiety and depressive symptoms. Within organizational contexts, Allison (2010) suggested that shifting was indicative of self-reflection and intellectual work among African American women but required “extra time and energy to navigate.” While negative aspects of shifting have been documented, facets of shifting as a positive and adaptive coping mechanism among African American women have also been noted (Johnson et al, 2016).…”

Section: Shiftingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Toward this end, we selected a unidirectional construct to assess acculturation status, a multidimensional construct of shifting served as our mediator, and a multidimensional construct of race-related stress served as the predicted outcome variable. An exploratory structural model was configured based partly on the shifting literature (Johnson et al, 2016; Jones & Shorter-Gooden, 2003). In this conceptual model, as shown in Figure 1, acculturation was proposed to affect race-related stress through the mediation effects of Shifting.…”

Section: Shiftingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In order to cope with racialized contexts that are frequently perceived as racist and oppressive, some African American women engage in certain behaviors conceived as shifting (Johnson et al, 2016; Jones & Shorter-Gooden, 2003), cultural frame switching (Benet-Martínez et al, in press; Hong et al, 2000), or role flexing (Balaji et al, 2012; Bry et al, 2017). Individuals who shift may feel compelled to alter their self-presentation in response to cultural or environmental cues, such as altering tone of voice, behaviors, and personal appearance, as well as being less conspicuous, sometimes without conscious awareness.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Shifting can serve as a means of coping with a potentially hostile environment (Johnson et al, 2016; Jones & Shorter-Gooden, 2003). However, engaging in shifting-related behaviors can be stressful for some African American women of various identities (Donovan & West, 2015).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Shifting Can Be Stressful for African American Women: A Structural Mediation Model

Gamst

Arellano‐Morales

Meyers

et al. 2020

Journal of Black Psychology

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The present study was designed to examine shifting, the phenomenon of altering or modifying one’s self-presentation in different social contexts, as a mediator of the predictive effects of African American women’s acculturation on their perceived race-related stress. To explore this issue, measures of African American acculturation, shifting, and race-related stress were examined within a structural model. The current study quantitatively examined the relationships of these variables among a sample of 366 African American women. Results of a structural equation model indicated full mediation; greater levels of immersion in African American acculturation resulted in greater levels of shifting, which, in turn, generated increased levels of race-related stress. These data extend previous work and expand the literature regarding African American women’s shifting. Implications for clinical work and future research with African American women are also discussed.

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Section: Shiftingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Shiftingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Shiftingmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Shifting Can Be Stressful for African American Women: A Structural Mediation Model

Gamst

Arellano‐Morales

Meyers

et al. 2020

Journal of Black Psychology

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Gendered racial microaggressions and emerging adult Black women's social and general anxiety: Distress intolerance and stress as mediators

Burke

Chijioke

2022

J Clin Psychol

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There is robust evidence that gendered racial microaggressions affect Black women's mental health. However, few studies have examined how this form of discrimination affects Black women's social anxiety in addition to their general anxiety, as well as the underlying mechanisms related to gendered racial microaggressions and anxiety. Objective The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between gendered racial microaggressions stress (GRMS) and gendered racial microaggressions frequency (GRMF), and Black women's social anxiety and general anxiety symptoms. We also examined the mediating roles of distress intolerance and stress in these associations. Method One hundred and sixty‐three Black women, between the ages of 18 and 25 years old, completed a cross‐sectional survey. Regression analyses were used to examine the associations between gendered racial microaggressions and social anxiety and general anxiety, and mediation analyses examined the indirect effect of gendered racial microaggressions on the outcome variables through distress intolerance and stress. Results GRMS was associated with greater social and general anxiety through the mechanisms of distress intolerance and stress. GRMF was associated with reduced social anxiety and was not associated with general anxiety. Conclusions Intervention efforts should be aimed to prevent the experience of gendered racial microaggressions to prevent subsequent stress and mental health outcomes for Black women.

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Shifting mediates gendered racial microaggressions and perceived racism among Asian American women

et al. 2023

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Introduction Microaggressive attacks on Asian American women increased during the COVID‐19 pandemic. The present study tested whether Asian American women's shifting, a coping strategy employed by some women of color to alter their self‐presentation in response to perceived racism, mediated the association between gendered racial microaggressions and self‐perceived subtle and blatant racism. Methods A convenience sample of 253 Asian American adult women completed the gendered racial microaggressions scale for Asian American women (GRMSAAW), the Asian American women's shifting scale (AsAWSS), and the subtle and blatant racism scale for Asian American college students (SABR‐A2). Results Results from a structural equation model indicated a partial mediation effect; experiences with increased gendered racial microaggressions were associated with greater levels of shifting, which in turn, were associated with greater perceived subtle and blatant racism. Discussion These data extend our understanding of the shifting coping mechanism used by some Asian American women. Implications for clinical practice and future research are also discussed.

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Development and validation of the African American Women’s Shifting Scale (AAWSS).

Abstract: A structural model was developed based on the Multicultural Assessment-Intervention Process (MAIP) framework that allowed for the exploration of the shifting construct. Implications for future research are discussed.

Cited by 25 publications

References 95 publications

Shifting Can Be Stressful for African American Women: A Structural Mediation Model

Shifting Can Be Stressful for African American Women: A Structural Mediation Model

Gendered racial microaggressions and emerging adult Black women's social and general anxiety: Distress intolerance and stress as mediators

Shifting mediates gendered racial microaggressions and perceived racism among Asian American women

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