Self- and group-focused internalized racism, anxiety, and depression symptoms among African American adults: A core self-evaluation mediated pathway

Abstract

Internalized racism (IR) is a form of racism that leads people to internalize stereotypes about their racial/ethnic group (i.e., group-focused IR) and/or about themselves because of their racial/ethnic group membership (i.e., self-focused IR). However, although IR is associated with poor mental health, little is known about the underlying mechanisms of these associations. To address this limitation, this research investigates the core self-evaluation (CSE; a person’s fundamental evaluations about themselves, their own abilities, and their own control) mediated pathway as one potential pathway. CSE consists of four traits: self-esteem (SE), locus of control (LoC), emotional stability (ES), and generalized self-efficacy (GSE). With a sample of 780 Black/African American adults ( Mage = 37.68 years, % Female = 57.6), this study investigated the independent direct and indirect effects of group- and self-focused IR on depression and anxiety symptoms via CSE using structural equation modeling. Confirming predictions, self- and group-focused IR predicted greater anxiety and depression symptoms and lower SE and ES. However, against predictions, both forms of IR were associated with increased internal LoC and were not associated with GSE. Last, results show partial support for the CSE mediated pathway, such that SE and ES (but not LoC or GSE) mediated the relationship between both self- and group-focused IR and anxiety and depression symptoms. Results suggest that IR is indirectly related to mental health via the more affective (SE, ES) relative to motivational (LoC, GSE) components of CSE, which has implications for understanding underlying mechanisms associating IR with poor mental health among racial/ethnic minorities.

Understanding internalized racial oppression and second-generation Vietnamese.

“…Internalized racial oppression (IRO) is the “process by which oppressed groups come to internalize and adopt the negative views and stereotypes transmitted by the oppressive majority” (David, 2013, p. 3). Studies focused on IRO of immigrant groups have found that manifestations vary by national origin, and that understanding how internalized racism functions for specific racial ethnic groups is needed (David, 2013; James, 2020; Trieu & Lee, 2018). The present study addresses this gap in the literature by understanding how IRO manifests for a particular group—second-generation Vietnamese Americans—as they experience IRO in their daily lives.…”

An initial framework for the study of internalized racism and health: Internalized racism as a racism‐induced identity threat response

“…The relationship between IR and health also varies as a function of how IR is both measured and conceptualized (Gale et al, 2020). For example, James (2021b) found that IR conceptualized and measured as self-hatred (or self-focused IR) was more strongly associated with poorer mental health and self-evaluations among Black American adults than IR conceptualized and measured as endorsement of negative group stereotypes (or group-focused IR). Jones et al (2007) found that self-focused, but not group-focused, IR was associated with lower self-esteem among Black/ African American women (see also Gupta et al, 2011).…”

“…Metanalytic evidence shows that IR is associated with poorer mental and physical health (Gale et al., 2020). Other research shows that higher levels of IR are associated with varied adverse mental and physical health outcomes, including depression (James, 2017; Seaton et al., 2022; Wester et al., 2006), anxiety (James, 2021b; Utsey et al., 2015), obsessive‐compulsive disorder (Wester et al., 2006; Worrell et al., 2011), psychological distress (Mouzon & McLean, 2016; Szymanski & Obiri, 2010), poorer psychological health and well‐being (Pillay, 2005; Whittaker & Neville, 2010), cardiovascular disease (Chae et al., 2010), somatic symptoms (Wester et al., 2006; Worrell et al., 2011), lower self‐rated physical health (Shen et al., 2011), and lower life satisfaction and quality of life (David, 2010; Velez et al., 2014). As a source of racism‐related stress, IR also serves as a risk factor to increase the probability of adverse health outcomes.…”

Do personal traits of the leader predict differences in leader and subordinate evaluations of leader effectiveness: a study in the banking industry in Ethiopia

“…The study focuses on core self-evaluation traits (internal locus of control, self-esteem and leadership self-efficacy), because, according to Judge, Locke and Durhm's core self-evaluation theory (Cited in Judge and Bono, 2001; Judge et al. , 1998), core self-evaluation traits indicate individuals' final evaluation of themselves and are the best predictors of job performance (Judge and Bono, 2001; James, 2021; Farčić et al. , 2020).…”

“…For example, studies (Fleenor et al, 1996;Mabe and West, 1982;Ostroff et al, 2004;Yammarino and Atwater, 1997) indicated the relative importance of information on biographic background (age, sex, educational level and job-related experience), individual characteristics (intelligence, achievement status, self-esteem and locus of control), cognitive processes (beliefs and expectations), contextual factors (political influence, rater experience and pressure), and similarity in biographic background (age, sex, educational level and job-related experience) in self-other rating agreement. The study focuses on core self-evaluation traits (internal locus of control, self-esteem and leadership self-efficacy), because, according to Judge, Locke and Durhm's core self-evaluation theory (Cited in Judge and Bono, 2001;Judge et al, 1998), core self-evaluation traits indicate individuals' final evaluation of themselves and are the best predictors of job performance (Judge and Bono, 2001;James, 2021;Far ci c et al, 2020).…”