Gendered Racial Microaggressions and Depressive Symptoms Among Black Women: A Moderated Mediation Model

Abstract

In the current study, we explored the relations between gendered racial microaggressions, gendered racial identity (intersection of one’s racial and gender identities), coping, and depressive symptoms among Black women. We tested coping strategies as mediators of the relations between gendered racial microaggressions and depressive symptoms. We also tested a moderated mediation model with gendered racial identity public and private regard as moderators of the indirect association of gendered racial microaggressions and depressive symptoms through disengagement coping. Participants were 231 Black women in the United States who completed an online survey. Disengagement coping was a significant mediator; increases in gendered racial microaggressions were associated with greater use of disengagement coping which, in turn, was associated with greater depressive symptoms. Gendered racial identity private regard was a significant moderator of the indirect association of gendered racial microaggressions and depressive symptoms through disengagement coping. These findings highlight the role of gendered racial identity private regard in buffering the negative effects of gendered racial microaggressions on depressive symptoms. Practitioners can use this information to apply an intersectional approach to therapeutic interventions that consider Black women’s intersecting identities and experiences of gendered racism.