Racial Trauma and Mental Health: The Adaptive Role of Psychological Flexibility for Young Black Adults

IF 3.8 2区心理学 Q2 PSYCHIATRY

Behavior Therapy Pub Date : 2025-02-08 DOI:10.1016/j.beth.2025.02.001

Jasmin R. Brooks Stephens, Elijah R. Murphy, Matthew W. Gallagher, Rheeda L. Walker

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Although recent work has highlighted the relation of racial trauma and adverse mental health sequelae specifically among Black Americans, the potential mechanisms underlying these associations remain relatively unknown. The present study examined psychological flexibility as a mediator of the association between racial trauma and symptoms of depression, suicide ideation, and anxiety. A sample of 417 Black young adults between the ages of 18 and 29 (53.5% male; M_age = 24.7, SD = 2.5) were recruited from a southwestern public university and social media to complete an online self-report survey. Structural equation modeling (SEM) analyses revealed significant indirect effects of racial trauma on increased symptoms of depression, anxiety, and suicide ideation via lower levels of psychological flexibility. This study demonstrated a link between racial trauma and depressive symptoms, anxiety, and suicide ideation, providing further evidence for the significant psychological burden of racial trauma. Additionally, study findings suggest that psychological flexibility is a key intervention target that may reduce the adverse impact of race-based traumatic stress for Black young adults.

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种族创伤与心理健康：黑人青年心理弹性的适应作用

虽然最近的工作已经强调了种族创伤和不良心理健康后遗症的关系，特别是在美国黑人中，但这些联系的潜在机制仍然相对未知。本研究考察了心理灵活性作为种族创伤与抑郁、自杀意念和焦虑症状之间关联的中介。从西南一所公立大学和社交媒体上招募了417名年龄在18至29岁之间的黑人年轻人（53.5%为男性；Mage = 24.7,SD = 2.5）来完成一项在线自我报告调查。结构方程模型（SEM）分析显示，种族创伤通过较低的心理灵活性对抑郁、焦虑和自杀意念的症状增加有显著的间接影响。本研究证明了种族创伤与抑郁症状、焦虑和自杀意念之间的联系，为种族创伤的重大心理负担提供了进一步的证据。此外，研究结果表明，心理灵活性是一个关键的干预目标，可以减少基于种族的创伤应激对黑人青年的不利影响。

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来源期刊

Behavior Therapy Multiple-

CiteScore

7.40

自引率

2.70%

发文量

113

审稿时长

121 days

期刊介绍： Behavior Therapy is a quarterly international journal devoted to the application of the behavioral and cognitive sciences to the conceptualization, assessment, and treatment of psychopathology and related clinical problems. It is intended for mental health professionals and students from all related disciplines who wish to remain current in these areas and provides a vehicle for scientist-practitioners and clinical scientists to report the results of their original empirical research. Although the major emphasis is placed upon empirical research, methodological and theoretical papers as well as evaluative reviews of the literature will also be published. Controlled single-case designs and clinical replication series are welcome.