My strong, Black daughter: Racial/ethnic differences in the attributes mothers value for their daughters

Examining the Intergenerational Transmission of the Strong Black Woman Narrative

This study examines the intergenerational transmission of the strong Black woman (SBW) narrative between Black mothers and daughters, exploring how this transmission contributes to both resilience and psychological stress. Utilizing a collective case study design with 10 participants (5 mother-daughter dyads), the study reveals how the SBW narrative, encompassing pride in identity, community support, and survival lessons, is perpetuated within Black families. It also delves into strategies Black women believe can facilitate healing from generational trauma, emphasizing changing the narrative and fostering new attitudes toward self-care. The findings underscore the importance of utilizing culturally responsive systemic approaches to explore how generational narratives shape identity and mental health. These insights highlight the need for understanding and addressing the complexities of generational trauma and cultural narratives in mental health practices.

Use of the Strong Black Woman Construct in Research: An Integrative Review

This was an integrative review of the literature on research using the strong Black woman (SBW) construct. We searched for data-based articles that mentioned SBW and examined topical areas of investigation, health outcomes and other constructs associated with SBW, and methods used to assess SBW. We found 47 articles. SBW was used to study coping with trauma (n = 11) or perceived offense (n = 10), or engaging in health-seeking behaviors (n = 10). Eighteen studies suggested that SBW was linked to several major health conditions (eg, hypertension, obesity, heart disease) and depressive and anxiety symptoms. SBW was positively correlated with undesirable coping behaviors (eg, self-silencing, maladaptive perfectionism) and negatively associated with self-compassion and help-seeking. The most common method of assessing SBW was using a structured questionnaire (n = 21). Longitudinal studies to examine the impact of SBW belief on Black women's coping with hardship were lacking.

An Intersectional-Contextual Approach to Racial Trauma Exposure Risk and Coping Among Black Youth

Black youth experience racial discrimination at higher rates than other racial/ethnic groups in the United States. To identify how racism can simultaneously serve as a risk factor for adverse childhood experience (ACE) exposure, a discrete type of ACE, and a post-ACE mental health risk factor among Black youth, Bernard and colleagues (2021) proposed the culturally informed ACEs (C-ACE) model. While an important addition to the literature, the C-ACE model is framed around a single axis of race-based oppression. This paper extends the model by incorporating an intersectional and ecodevelopmental lens that elucidates how gendered racism framed by historical trauma, as well as gender-based socialization experiences, may have implications for negative mental health outcomes among Black youth. Clinical and research implications are discussed.

Becoming Strong: Sociocultural Experiences, Mental Health, & Black Girls' Strong Black Woman Schema Endorsement

This study examines the precedents and consequences of Black girls' Strong Black Woman schema (SBW) endorsement. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that, among Black girls (N= 308), racial discrimination experiences and racial barrier socialization messages were positively associated with SBW endorsement. However, there was no significant interaction between racial discrimination and racial barrier messages in predicting SBW endorsement. Our analyses also revealed that SBW was not directly associated with internalizing symptoms (e.g., anxiety and depression symptoms). Furthermore, there was no significant interaction between racial discrimination and SBW endorsement in predicting internalizing symptoms. Findings provide evidence of and clarity on how sociocultural experiences shape SBW development and highlight a need to better understand how SBW endorsement functions in the mental health of Black girls.

“I’m a Strong Independent Black Woman”: The Strong Black Woman Schema and Mental Health in College-Aged Black Women

The Strong Black Woman Schema (SBWS) is a cultural expectation for Black women to unfailingly display signs of strength and caretaker qualities, while suppressing their emotions. Although this schema is a purported source of strength for Black women, quantitative explorations of its psychological impact have been limited. In the present study, we examined associations between endorsement of the SBWS and several indicators of mental health and resilience in Black women. We analyzed responses from 212 college-aged, Black women assessing psychological distress, suicidal behaviors, resilience, and SBWS endorsement. Findings indicated that endorsement of the SBWS was positively related to both psychological distress and self-reported suicidal behaviors. In addition, the SBWS’ link to suicidal behaviors was mediated by psychological distress. Lastly, results from moderated mediation analysis supported a buffering effect of resilience. That is, when resilience was high, the association between psychological distress and suicidal behaviors, as well as the conditional indirect effects of the SBWS, was lessened. Implications of these findings suggest that prevalent endorsement of SBWS within Black communities may be harmful to Black women’s mental health. We call for additional research and provide recommendations on how the media, mental health professionals, and community leaders can mitigate its negative effects.

Superwoman's kryptonite: The superwoman schema and perceived barriers to weight management among U.S. Black women

The role that the superwoman schema (SWS) plays in U.S. Black women's perceptions of barriers (biological, psychological, and sociological) to healthy weight management is unknown. This exploratory study examined whether 122 women classified as normal weight, overweight or obese differed in their perceptions of types of barriers and if the SWS predicted perceived barriers to weight management. Women classified as obese reported more barriers than those classified as normal weight. The SWS uniquely positively predicted perceived psychological and sociological barriers. Our findings suggest that the SWS may play a vital role in the self-management of weight in U.S. Black women.

Does your child need therapy? Maternal reflective functioning and perceived need for and use of child mental health treatment

Interventions to improve reflective functioning (RF) are being delivered to parents of children with mental health needs, yet whether this population differs in RF is unknown. We examine if mothers with varying levels of child mental health (CMH) treatment need and use differ in RF in a community sample of 212 mothers. Participants completed measures of general RF, parental RF, children's symptoms, perceived treatment need, treatment utilization, and perceptions of treatment efficacy at baseline and one year later. Low maternal RF was associated with elevated child symptoms, and a greater perceived need for treatment. Among mothers who believed their child needed services, those with low general RF were less likely to be utilizing services at baseline and in the next year. Mothers with lower parental RF also believed that CMH treatment was less effective. Findings support the use of RF-based interventions with parents identified because of their child's mental health.