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Discriminatory Experiences and Depressive Symptoms among African American Women: Do Skin Tone and Mastery Matter?

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Abstract

We apply structural equation modeling techniques to data from the National Survey of American Life to investigate the relationship between perceived discrimination and depressive symptoms among African American women ages 18–98 years (N = 2,299). In addition, we evaluate whether or not personal mastery accounts for the intensity of African American women’s psychological response to discrimination and whether or not exposure to discrimination varies by skin complexion. Findings reveal that discrimination is a major threat to African American women’s mental health. They are vulnerable to discrimination, in part, because discrimination undermines their beliefs in mastery making them less psychologically resilient. Experiences of discrimination do not differ by complexion. We conclude that complexion does not matter, but mastery does.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology and Center for Demography and Population Health, Florida State University, Room 526 BEL, P.O. Box 3062270, Tallahassee, FL, 32306-2270, USA

    Verna M. Keith

  2. School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Karen D. Lincoln

  3. School of Social Work and Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Robert Joseph Taylor

  4. Institute for Social Research and Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    James S. Jackson

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  1. Verna M. Keith
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  2. Karen D. Lincoln
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  3. Robert Joseph Taylor
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  4. James S. Jackson
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Correspondence to Verna M. Keith.

Additional information

Data collection on which this study is based was supported by the National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH; U01-MH57716).

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Keith, V.M., Lincoln, K.D., Taylor, R.J. et al. Discriminatory Experiences and Depressive Symptoms among African American Women: Do Skin Tone and Mastery Matter?. Sex Roles 62, 48–59 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-009-9706-5

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