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The Moderating Effects of Skin Color and Ethnic Identity Affirmation on Suicide Risk among Low-SES African American Women

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Abstract

This study examined the influence of concurrent racism and sexism experiences (i.e., gendered racism) on African American women’s suicidal ideation and behavior in the context of disadvantaged socioeconomic status. Drawing on a stress process framework, the moderating effects of ethnic identity and skin color were explored using multiple regression analyses. Data were from 204 low-income African American women in the B-WISE (Black Women in a Study of Epidemics) project. Findings suggested that experiencing gendered racism significantly increased these women’s risk for suicidal ideation or behavior, though only among women with medium or dark skin color. Also, having strong ethnic identity buffered the harmful effects of gendered racism. The moderating properties of skin color and ethnic identity affirmation likely operate through psychosocial pathways, blocking internalization of negative stereotypes and reducing the level of distress experienced in response to gendered racism.

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Notes

  1. Analyses were conducted separately for suicidal ideation and behavior. Results for suicidal behavior were in the same direction as findings for the combined measure, but did not consistently achieve statistical significance. Using the combined measure provides better model fit as suggested by the Bayesian Information Criterion and likelihood ratio Chi-square test. Findings for suicidal ideation mirrored those for the combined measure, with estimates and standard errors that consistently achieved significance. Full results are available upon request.

  2. Only about one-third of the sample used drugs in the past month, and the majority of activity reported was occasional marijuana use as opposed to use of other “hard” drugs.

  3. Though socioeconomic-, mental health-, and substance abuse status could all justifiably serve as moderators in the relationship between gendered racism and suicidal ideation and behavior, these interactions were not statistically significant.

  4. Though skin color and ethnic resources were significantly associated, the degree of variation between these measures and the regression results presented below suggested that they are conceptually distinct.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01-DA22967).

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  1. University of Kentucky, 1515 Patterson Office Tower, Lexington, KY, 40506, USA

    Brea L. Perry & Carrie B. Oser

  2. Spalding University, Louisville, KY, USA

    Danelle Stevens-Watkins

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Perry, B.L., Stevens-Watkins, D. & Oser, C.B. The Moderating Effects of Skin Color and Ethnic Identity Affirmation on Suicide Risk among Low-SES African American Women. Race Soc Probl 5, 1–14 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12552-012-9080-8

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