Child / Adolescent - Depression
Mallory R. Cotton, B.S., B.A.
Clinical Psychology Doctoral Student
University of Houston
Dacula, Georgia
Haley Conroy Busch, M.A.
Clinical Psychology Doctoral Candidate
University of Houston
Houston, Texas
Andres G. Viana, ABPP, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
University of Houston
Houston, Texas
Introduction: Racism-related stress among Black youth is positively associated with internalizing psychopathology such as anxiety and depressive symptoms. Negative public regard, a form of racial identity, describes the extent to which a Black individual believes others view Black Americans unfavorably. Previous work demonstrates that negative public regard is associated with internalizing symptoms in Black youth. However, extant literature has yet to clarify the mechanisms which underly this association. Specifically, there is a paucity of research examining cognitive mediators of this relationship. Prior research suggests that Black individuals inhibit or suppress their emotions to minimize negative, stereotypical perceptions. Subsequently, the current study investigated emotion suppression as a mediator of the positive association between negative public regard and internalizing symptoms in a sample of Black youth. It was hypothesized that greater emotion suppression in Black youth would partially explain the positive relation between youth reports of negative public regard and internalizing symptoms.
Method: Black youth (N = 100; Mage = 11. 77 years, SD = 2.64; 73% male) were recruited nationally and administered self-report measures of racial identity, emotion management strategies, and anxiety and depression symptoms.
Results: The mediation model indicated a significant indirect effects of negative public regard on self-reported internalizing symptoms via emotion inhibition (completely standardized point estimate = -0.55, SE = 0.20, BC 95% CI [-0.96, -0.19]).
Discussion: Black youth who report negative public regard are more likely to engage in emotion suppression. Consequently, they are more likely to report greater levels of depression and anxiety symptoms. Future research should evaluate both cognitive and cultural protective factors for Black youth and their families to buffer against racism-related stress.
