Whose American Dream? Examining the John Henryism Hypothesis for Psychological Distress among African American and Caribbean Black Women.

Abstract

The John Henryism hypothesis (JHH) suggests high John Henryism may adversely affect the health of individuals with low socioeconomic status (SES). Although prevalent among Black Americans, its impact on Black women's mental health across ethnic subgroups remains understudied. Using National Survey of American Life data (2001-2003), a factor analysis and negative binomial regression examined John Henryism patterns and psychological distress among 1,209 African American and 371 Caribbean Black women. Distinct factor structures indicated the need for group-specific versions of John Henryism variables to capture its role within each population. The analysis found no direct link between John Henryism and distress for either group. However, after accounting for sociodemographic factors and stressors, high John Henryism was associated with lower distress among Caribbean Black women. Evidence supporting the JHH was found only among Caribbean Black women, where John Henryism was protective for those with low and moderate SES but unrelated to distress for high-SES individuals.