Living in Between: A Grounded Theory Study of Depression Among Middle-Class Black Women

Abstract

Empirical evidence consistently has linked the identification and treatment of depression among low-income Black women. Research on depression and Black women also suggests Black women are a monolithic group who experience depression similarly. The purpose of this qualitative study was to gain a deeper understanding of how the identity of middle-class Black women may shape their experiences with depression. Using grounded theory as the guiding method, I conducted 30 in-depth, semistructured interviews with Black women between 30 and 45 years old who self-identified as middle class. The core experience of depression among middle-class Black women was “living in between” because they straddled two worlds—one Black world and one White world—with competing sociocultural messages about depression. Two major categories emerged that informed the experiences of depression among the middle-class Black women in this study: (a) strategies to deal with depression and (b) minimization of depression. Each of these categories highlighted consequences for the women’s mental health. The women also described coping strategies for managing these experiences. Implications for research and practice are included.