Anticipatory Race-Related Stress and Depressive Symptoms among U.S. Black Women Attending A Historically Black University: Are Psychosocial Resources Stress Buffers?

In an era of police brutality and the Black Lives Matter movement, many Black Americans believe that racism is a mainstay of U.S. culture. Even if not experiencing racial threats or violence directly, racial tension can induce stress via anticipatory race-related stress (ARRS). Drawing from theories of social stress and the intersectionality framework, this study examined the association between ARRS and depressive symptoms among Black women attending a historically Black university (N = 207). Second, we investigated whether psychosocial resources (mastery, resilience, self-esteem, social support) moderated the association between ARRS and depressive symptoms. Study results revealed that anticipatory race-related stress was positively associated with depressive symptoms. Mastery and resilience moderated the association between anticipatory race-related stress and depressive symptoms; that is, the association between ARRS and depressive symptoms was weaker for those with elevated levels of mastery and resilience. In sum, building resilience and mastery among Black women may be effective coping strategies for combatting anticipatory race-related stress. However, dismantling structural racism is necessary to eliminate the anticipation of racism.