title: Discriminatory Experiences and Depressive Symptoms among African American Women: Do Skin Tone and Mastery Matter?
abstract: We apply structural equation modeling techniques to data from the National Survey of American Life to investigate the relationship between perceived discrimination and depressive symptoms among African American women ages 18-98 years (N=2,299). In addition, we evaluate whether or not personal mastery accounts for the intensity of African American women's psychological response to discrimination and whether or not exposure to discrimination varies by skin complexion. Findings reveal that discrimination is a major threat to African American women's mental health. They are vulnerable to discrimination, in part, because discrimination undermines their beliefs in mastery making them less psychologically resilient. Experiences of discrimination do not differ by complexion. We conclude that complexion does not matter, but mastery does.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology and Center for Demography and Population Health, Florida State University, Room 526 BEL, P.O. Box 3062270, Tallahassee, FL 32306-2270, USA.
authors.forename: Verna M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Keith
authors.forename: Karen D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Lincoln
authors.forename: Robert Joseph
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: James S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Jackson