title: Examining the associations of racism, sexism, and stressful life events on psychological distress among African-American women.
abstract: African-American women may be susceptible to stressful events and adverse health outcomes as a result of their distinct social location at the intersection of gender and race. Here, racism and sexism are examined concurrently using survey data from 204 African-American women residing in a southeastern U.S. urban city. Associations among racism, sexism, and stressful events across social roles and contexts (i.e., social network loss, motherhood and childbirth, employment and finances, personal illness and injury, and victimization) are investigated. Then, the relationships among these stressors on psychological distress are compared, and a moderation model is explored. Findings suggest that racism and sexism are a significant source of stress in the lives of African-American women and are correlated with one another and with other stressful events. Implications for future research and clinical considerations are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology, University of Kentucky.
authors.forename: Danelle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stevens-Watkins
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology, University of Kentucky.
authors.forename: Brea
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology, University of Kentucky.
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pullen
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, Spalding University.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jewell
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology, University of Kentucky.
authors.forename: Carrie B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Oser
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D011287:Prejudice; D063505:Racism / Q000523:psychology*; D063507:Sexism / Q000523:psychology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States