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Symposia

Culture / Ethnicity / Race

Strength in Black Womanhood: Implications of Strong Black Woman Schema for Mental Health and Clinical Practice

3 - (SYM 96) Intersectionality Matters: An Examination of the Role of Sexual Orientation in the Association Between Superwoman Schema and Depressive Symptoms of Black Women at Hbcus

Saturday, November 16, 2024
2:30 PM – 4:00 PM EST
Location: Franklin Hall 10, Level 4, Downtown Marriott
Abstract Body
Data suggests that over half of young Black women in the United States experience depression. Emerging research has demonstrated that Black sexual minority women have even higher rates of mental health symptoms, including lifetime symptoms of depression and anxiety, compared to their heterosexual counterparts. This study sought to understand whether sexual orientation moderates the association between Superwoman Schema (SWS) aspects and depression among young Black women attending a Historically Black College (HBCU). To address this aim, 235 students completed a one-time survey. Participants’ mean age was 20 years, 87.2% were African American, 67.7% were heterosexual and 32.3% were sexual minorities. Hierarchical regressions were conducted to examine associations between individual aspects of SWS endorsement, sexual orientation, and their interactions on depression, while statistically adjusting for family class and year in school. There were three significant interactions and simple slope analyses were conducted to examine these associations. For sexual minority women, there was a significant negative association between SWS obligation to suppress emotions and depression (p< 0.05), such that as SWS obligation to suppress emotions endorsement increased, depression decreased for only sexual minority women. For heterosexual women there was a significant positive association between SWS obligation to help others endorsement and depression (p< 0.01), such that as SWS obligation to help others endorsement increased depression increased for only heterosexual women. While the interaction between SWS resistance to being vulnerable endorsement and sexual orientation was significant (p< 0.05), there were no significant differences in the simple slopes analysis. Findings provide support for sexual orientation differences in aspects of SWS on depressive symptoms among young Black women attending an HBCU. This presentation will highlight the importance of understanding and addressing intersectional oppression rooted in racism, sexism, and heterosexism in mental health interventions with young Black women attending HBCUs.