Showing papers in "Journal of Black Psychology in 2006"
TL;DR: This article examined the interrelationships among racial discrimination experiences, parent race socialization practices, and academic achievement outcomes in a sample of 548 African American adolescents, and found that the interrelation among race experiences and socialization was positively associated with academic achievement.
Abstract: This study examines the interrelationships among racial discrimination experiences, parent race socialization practices, and academic achievement outcomes in a sample of 548 African American adoles...
359 citations
TL;DR: Shifting as mentioned in this paper provides a comprehensive synopsis of African American women's simultaneous battle with racism and sexism, based on an extensive research project called the Women's Voices Project, which was conducted with 333 women across five U.S. cities.
Abstract: Shifting, written by journalist Charisse Jones and clinical psychologist Dr. Kumea Shorter-Gooden, provides a comprehensive synopsis of African American women’s simultaneous battle with racism and sexism. The book is largely based on an extensive research project called the Women’s Voices Project, which was conducted with 333 African American women across five U.S. cities. Jones and Shorter-Gooden give life to the phenomena they call “shifting” through the many voices and experiences of the courageous women they interviewed. Throughout the 10 chapters, the authors weave research findings with quotes from identified participants, vividly demonstrating the ways in which racism and sexism uniquely affect the social, emotional, and spiritual lives of African American women.
293 citations
TL;DR: This article examined three competing models of the relations among perceived discrimination, social support, and indicators of psychological adjustment in a sample of 135 African American college students and found that perceived racial discrimination was associated with lower perceptions.
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine three competing models of the relations among perceived discrimination, social support, and indicators of psychological adjustment in a sample of 135 African American college students The three competing models, social support buffering, social support mobilization, and social support deterioration, were tested within a regression framework The buffering model, which predicted that social support would interact with perceived discrimination such that individuals with high levels of social support would be protected from the harmful effects of discrimination, was not supported The social support mobilization model, which predicted that support networks would mobilize to support individuals exposed to discrimination, was also not supported Support was only obtained for the social support deterioration model, which predicted that social support would decrease for those exposed to discrimination Perceived racial discrimination was associated with lower perceptions
158 citations
TL;DR: Results provide additional support for suicide interventions to target hopelessness and depressive symptoms and highlight the importance of examining the role of culturally salient variables, such as religious participation and religious coping style, when developing intervention programs for suicide.
Abstract: This study investigated whether hopelessness and depression were risk factors for suicidal thoughts and behaviors in African American adolescents and looked at whether religious participation and religious coping protected these students from suicidality. Participants were 212 African American high school students (133 females, 79 males). The results of multiple and logistic regression analyses found that hopelessness and depression were risk factors for suicidal ideation and attempts. Religious coping style was significantly related to suicidal behaviors: Self-directed coping was related to increased hopelessness, depression, and suicide attempts, and collaborative coping was related to increased reasons for living. Gender differences were found in symptoms of depression, religious coping style and religious participation. Results provide additional support for suicide interventions to target hopelessness and depressive symptoms and highlight the importance of examining the role of culturally salient variables, such as religious participation and religious coping style, when developing intervention programs for suicide.
149 citations
TL;DR: This paper investigated black racial identity attitudes as a moderator of intellectual performance in potentially stereotype threatening situations and found that Internalization status attitudes moderated performance on the intellectual task (i.e., items from the verbal section of the GRE).
Abstract: This study investigated Black racial identity attitudes as a moderator of intellectual performance in potentially stereotype threatening situations. Ninety-eight African American students were randomly assigned to one of three stereotype threatening conditions: low threat, medium threat, or high threat. Analyses confirmed a stereotype threat effect with participants performing significantly better on the task in the low threat condition. Additional analyses of the test takers’ racial identity profiles under high and low threat conditions revealed a significant interaction between Internalization status attitudes and the type of threat condition. In the low stereotype threat condition, Internalization status attitudes moderated performance on the intellectual task (i.e., items from the verbal section of the GRE). In this condition, after controlling for SAT verbal score, students who strongly endorsed Internalization racial identity attitudes correctly solved more items than students who did not identify a...
134 citations
TL;DR: This paper investigated the relationship between racial identity status attitudes, ethnic identity, and perceptions of racial discrimination among 82 Afro-Caribbeans and found that racial identity and ethnic identity are significant predictors for perceptions of race discrimination during the course of one's lifetime.
Abstract: Racial identity ego statuses (i.e., one’s psychological orientation to his or her racial group membership) can have an important impact on how some Blacks perceive and experience racial discrimination in the United States. The present study investigates the relationships between racial identity status attitudes, ethnic identity, and perceptions of racial discrimination among 82 Afro-Caribbeans. Results indicate that racial identity and ethnic identity are significant predictors for perceptions of racial discrimination during the course of one’s lifetime. Implications for the field of psychology are discussed.
126 citations
TL;DR: African Americans' lay beliefs and attributions toward suicide were examined, with African American students significantly less likely than European American college students to attribute suicide to interpersonal problems and to report that the individual or government is responsible for life.
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine African Americans' lay beliefs and attributions toward suicide. The Attitudes Toward Suicide Scale, Life Ownership Orientation Questionnaire, Stigma Questionnaire, and Suicide Ideation Questionnaire were administered to 251 undergraduate college students. Beliefs about stigma associated with suicide were comparable across ethnic groups. However, African American college students were significantly less likely than European American college students were to attribute suicide to interpersonal problems and to report that the individual or government is responsible for life. African American students were significantly more likely to report that God is responsible for life. These findings have important implications for suicide risk and also for developing culturally appropriate interventions.
118 citations
TL;DR: This article examined the relationship between perceived racism and paranoia across the continuum in 128 African American college students and found that perceived racism predicted cultural mistrust and nonclinical paranoia, but not clinical paranoia.
Abstract: Recent theoretical models suggest that perceived racism acts as a stressor for African Americans and may be associated with a variety of negative psychological consequences, notably paranoia. Paranoia among African Americans is believed to reflect the lower end of the paranoia continuum based on experiences with racism. Thus, it may be beneficial to measure paranoia on a continuum, but few studies have adopted this strategy. This study examined the relationship between perceived racism and paranoia across the continuum in 128 African American college students. Participants completed three measures of paranoia and measures of perceived racism, depression, anger, self-consciousness, and hostile perceptions. The continuum of paranoia included measures reflecting cultural, nonclinical, and clinical paranoia. Perceived racism predicted cultural mistrust and nonclinical paranoia (lower end of the paranoia continuum) but not clinical paranoia. The implications of perceived racism in the prediction of paranoia for African Americans are discussed.
103 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined African American adolescents' perceptions of racism and career self-efficacy relationships, and found that participants who perceived a higher degree of racism against their group reported significantly higher selfefficacy for career decision making, but not for career task self-efficiency.
Abstract: African American adolescents’ perceptions of racism and career self-efficacy relationships are examined. Participants in a southwestern urban high school completed the Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure, Racism and Life Experiences Scale-Personal and -Group, and career decision and career task self-efficacy scales. Results indicate that participants who perceived a higher degree of racism against their group reported significantly higher self-efficacy for career decision making but not for career task self-efficacy. An achieved ethnic identity, higher parental socioeconomic status, and being female were related to higher levels of career self-efficacy. The study’s research design supports the need for research with ethnic identity, gender, and the use of multidimensional measurements to achieve a better understanding of racism and career self-efficacy with African American adolescents. Theoretical, research, and programmatic implications are discussed.
88 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors test a path model exploring the relationships among Africentric cultural values, self-esteem, perceived social support satisfaction, and life satisfaction in the context of Africa.
Abstract: The primary purpose of this study was to test a path model exploring the relationships among Africentric cultural values, self-esteem, perceived social support satisfaction, and life satisfaction i...
71 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors compared national epidemiologic data of suicide in the United States from 1981 to 2002 and evaluated the incidence trends of Black suicide using an age-period-cohort analysis.
Abstract: To explore the different trends of suicide incidence among Blacks and possible contributing factors, the current study compared national epidemiologic data of suicide in the United States from 1981 to 2002. For the first time, period and birth-cohort effects on the incidence trends of Black suicide were evaluated using an age-period-cohort analysis. Cohort effects were found for males and females, suggesting that younger generations of Blacks are at higher risk. If younger cohorts carry their increased suicide risk into later life, then the recent decline in Black suicide rates will be reversed. The results of the current study are only interpretable in terms of group-level characteristics and population suicide rates and not individual-level characteristics. The possible explanation and the implications for prevention and future research are discussed.
TL;DR: The authors explored the influence of contextual factors on the ethnic identity content of African American youth and found that urban hassles negatively affect the content of ethnic identity but that this effect may be mediated by racial socialization.
Abstract: Ethnic identity is believed by some to function as a protective factor for ethnic minority youth, in particular African American youth. Although ethnic identity development is primarily the result of racial socialization practices, it may also be influenced by other contextual factors. Neighborhood factors, parent characteristics, parenting style, and bicultural competence may play pivotal roles in the ethnic identity development of African American youth. Exploratory factor analysis and path analysis were used to explore the influence of certain contextual factors on the ethnic identity content of study participants. The findings suggest that urban hassles negatively affect the content of ethnic identity but that this effect may be mediated by racial socialization. This research represents a continuing effort to explore the influence of contextual factors on the ethnic identity content of African American youth. By broadening the focus to include features of parents as well as of neighborhoods, a more co...
TL;DR: The authors explored the racial and gender attitudes and feminist activism of 100 self-identified African American feminists (50 women and 50 men) to determine whether Black feminists possess weak racial identities due to feminist influences stereotypically associated with White American culture, and if Black feminist men share similar gender attitudes, beliefs, and feminist levels with Black feminist women, and whether race and gender identity attitudes predict feminist activism.
Abstract: This study explored the racial and gender attitudes and feminist activism of 100 self-identified African American feminists (50 women and 50 men) to determine (a) whether Black feminists possess weak racial identities due to feminist influences stereotypically associated with White American culture, (b) if Black feminist men share similar gender attitudes, beliefs, and feminist activism levels with Black feminist women, and (c) whether racial and gender identity attitudes predict feminist activism. Multivariate analyses revealed strong racial and feminist identities (measured by the Racial Identity Attitudes Scale-Form B [RIASB] and the Gender Role Journey Scale, respectively) and no significant gender differences. However, Black women reported a wider range of feminist activism than Black men. A hierarchical regression analysis revealed that sexual orientation, preference for the label feminist, and high scores on the Gender Role Journey Personal-Professional Activism subscale were important predictors o...
TL;DR: Suicide is now the third leading cause of death for African Americans, behind only homicide and unintentional injury as discussed by the authors, and suicide is considered a "White thing" in the US.
Abstract: Once considered a “White thing,” suicide is now the third leading cause of death for African Americans, behind only homicide and unintentional injury. Although the rates of suicide for African Amer...
TL;DR: This article examined the folk emotion lexica of two indigenous West African languages, Fante and Dagbani, and found frequent somatic referents in the expression of African emotions suggests that future theories of emotion structure may need to incorporate the concept of embodiment.
Abstract: Although many theories about the structure of emotion have been developed, none of them seem to adequately explain the African experience. This study examined the folk emotion lexica of two indigenous West African languages. Fifty monolingual Fante speakers and 50 monolingual Dagbani speakers from rural and semirural Ghana participated in focus groups to generate words in their native language that they use to describe experiences that involve emotions. Qualitative analysis of the emotion lexica generated by the focus group participants revealed frequent somatic referencing in the emotion talk of Fante and Dagbani, although there were differences in the specific body parts mentioned in references to various emotional experiences. The ubiquity of somatic referents in the expression of African emotions suggests that future theories of emotion structure may need to incorporate the concept of embodiment.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined mechanisms through which optimism may influence psychological adjustment among 133 Black college students, and evaluated the extent to which active optimism influenced psychological adjustment for black college students.
Abstract: This investigation examines mechanisms through which optimism may influence psychological adjustment among 133 Black college students. Specifically, this study evaluates the extent to which active ...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the effect of a school-based emancipatory intervention on the psychological and behavioral well-being of African American adolescents and found that the intervention positively affected each of these variables.
Abstract: This study experimentally examined the effect of a school-based emancipatory intervention on the psychological and behavioral well-being of African American adolescents. Sixty-five eighth graders in an inner-city, predominantly Black school were randomly assigned to either receive the experimental intervention or a regular Life Skills course (the control condition). The class met three times a week for one semester. Growth trajectory modeling was used to test the extent to which the intervention affected students’ communal worldviews, individualism, school connectedness, motivation to achieve, and social change activities over time. Results indicated that the intervention positively affected each of these variables. Increased communalism and increased school connectedness mediated the relationship between the intervention and students’ motivation to achieve. Competitive individualistic orientation was a partial mediator for motivation to achieve. Implications for practice, policy, and research are discussed.
TL;DR: In this article, the effect of mother-daughter and father-daughter relationships on drug refusal self-efficacy for urban African American girls between the ages of 11 and 14 was investigated.
Abstract: This study yielded interesting findings on the effect of mother-daughter and father-daughter relationships on drug refusal self-efficacy for urban African American girls between the ages of 11 and 14. The questionnaire consisted of assessments on the quality of the girls’ mother and father relationships and their perceived ability to refuse drugs. The quality of the father-daughter relationship significantly predicted drug refusal self-efficacy for urban African American girls. Implications of these findings are discussed.
TL;DR: In a case-control study of nearly lethal suicide attempters, this paper found that hopelessness was associated with a nearly lethal suicidal attempt for Blacks and Whites, but the odds were greater for Blacks than Whites.
Abstract: Hopelessness is associated with suicide. Hopelessness has been associated with life experiences, social-environmental, and biological factors. Racial differences exist in these factors and in coping behaviors. Better understanding racial differences in hopelessness and suicide may result in more effective interventions to slow the increasing Black American suicide rate. Data from a case-control study of nearly lethal suicide attempters were analyzed. Interaction results from logistic regression suggest that the effect of hopelessness on a nearly lethal suicide attempt may differ for Black and White Americans. Hopelessness was strongly associated with a nearly lethal suicide attempt for Blacks and Whites, but the odds were greater for Blacks than Whites. Interventions may need to be adjusted to address the difference.
TL;DR: This paper reviewed the risk and protective factors associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviors in the African American community and provided a brief review of the history of suicide research in African American communities and critique some of the paradigms and underlying assumptions.
Abstract: This article reviews the risk and protective factors associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviors in the African American community. The authors provide a brief review of the history of suicide research in African American communities and critique some of the paradigms and underlying assumptions that have made it difficult to address the problem of suicidal behaviors in the African American community. The article also summarizes the articles that are presented in this special edition of the Journal of Black Psychology on suicidality in the African American community.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated dimensions of a suicide attempt and psychological and historical risk factors that differentiate low-income, female, African American suicide attempters as a function of having made a single, first-time attempt versus multiple attempts.
Abstract: This investigation ascertained dimensions of a suicide attempt and psychological and historical risk factors that differentiate low-income, female, African American suicide attempters as a function of having made a single, first-time attempt versus multiple attempts. Two groups were compared: first time attempters (n= 135) and repeat attempters (n= 139). Participants were recruited from a large, urban hospital following a suicide attempt (i.e., index suicide attempt). Sociodemographic characteristics, details of the index attempt (i.e., the attempt that prompted entry into the study), psychological functioning, hopelessness, substance abuse, and trauma history were assessed. The two groups were largely similar across sociodemographic characteristics. Multivariate analyses of variance were used to test hypotheses. Relative to first-time attempters, the attempts of repeat attempters involved higher levels of intent, planning, and perceived lethality and were associated with more psychological distress, hopelessness, substance abuse, and childhood trauma. Research and clinical implications of the findings are discussed.
TL;DR: In this paper, an exploratory qualitative study that examined the impact of suicide on a group of 19 African American families who lost a family member to suicide was conducted. But the majority of survivors felt that they had to go through the grieving process alone.
Abstract: This article describes an exploratory qualitative study that examined the impact of suicide on a group of 19 African American families who lost a family member to suicide. The majority of suicide survivors were women who lost children to suicide. The participants were interviewed for an average of 2.5 hours using a semi-structured interview that was developed by the author. The majority of survivors felt that they had to go through the grieving process alone. Those survivors who did receive support most often received it from family members and friends. Most of the respondents felt that the support, if any, that was offered from the church was unhelpful. Negative attitudes about suicide from the broader community and from family members made it more difficult for these families to grieve.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the linkages between interpersonal identity formation and adolescents' perceptions of social capital quality and found that adolescents who have stronger commitments to their interpersonal identities will report better social capital qualities.
Abstract: Social capital may be particularly important for the well-being and future opportunities of African American adolescents living in low income families. In this study, linkages between interpersonal identity formation and adolescents’ perceptions of social capital quality were examined in a cross-sectional study of 374 low income, rural, African American adolescents (161 males, 213 females), ranging in age from 12 to 19. It was argued that adolescents who have stronger commitments to their interpersonal identities will report better social capital quality. Analysis of variance results indicated that adolescents classified as foreclosed (high commitment/low exploration) in identity status never differed in their perceptions of social capital quality from those classified as achieved (high commitment/high exploration) in identity status. Furthermore, results of structural equation modeling indicated that identity commitment mattered most for explaining variability in social capital quality. Implications for ...
TL;DR: This article investigated father involvement among African American feminist fathers and found that five interrelated parenting themes emerged from a narrative analysis of individual semistructured interviews that examined the relationship between fathers and mothers.
Abstract: This study investigated father involvement among African American feminist fathers. Five interrelated parenting themes emerged from a narrative analysis of individual semistructured interviews that...
TL;DR: In this paper, the influence of contextual factors on African American students' learning was examined by using a 3 (condition) × 2 (ethnicity) MANOVA with initial learning and transfer as dependent variables.
Abstract: This study sought to address the lack of experimental research examining the influence of contextual factors on African American students’ learning. A total of 162 low-income African American and White fourth graders were randomly assigned to ethnically homogeneous, communally structured groups of three to work on a motion acceleration task using either computer simulation or physical tools, or to a control group that did not participate in the learning activities. A 3 (condition) × 2 (ethnicity) MANOVA was computed with initial learning and transfer as dependent variables. Results indicate African American and White students performed equally well on the test of initial learning, with both groups scoring significantly higher than the control group. However, African Americans’ transfer outcomes were better than those of their White counterparts. Regarding tools, work with physical apparatus yielded better transfer outcomes than work with computer simulation. Implications for creating optimal learning cont...