Anticipatory Race‐Related Stress and General Worry Among Black Women Students at an HBCU: The Mediating Effects of Internal Psychological Resources

Abstract

The pervasiveness of racism and its impacts on mental health continues to complicate the lives of Black women students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Emerging studies also reveal the prevalence of increasing anxiety among Black women. Stress responses culminate in increased mental (e.g., worry), emotional (e.g., shame) and physiological effects (e.g., cortisol reactivity). The biopsychosocial model of racism was used to examine the relationship between anticipatory race-related stress and general worry among 206 Black women at a HBCU in the southern region of the U.S. Internal psychological factors (secondary appraisal, mastery, resilience and self-esteem) were evaluated to determine their effects on anticipatory race-related stress and general worry. Findings indicate a positive relationship between anticipatory race-related stress and general worry. Further, mastery and self-esteem partially mediated the relationship between anticipatory race-related stress and general worry. That is, the association between anticipatory race-related stress was not as profound when mastery and self-esteem levels were high. The results highlight the importance of practitioners recognizing the value of internal psychological resources when supporting Black women as they navigate and heal from anticipatory race-related stress and general worry, thereby reducing potential anxiety.