How African American Men Cope with Race-Based Traumatic Stress: A Quantitative Study

Abstract

This study focuses on how African American men experience race-based traumatic stress (RBTS) and the coping strategies they employ. Data were collected from a purposive sample of African American emerging adults (N = 148) who resided in St. Louis, Missouri. Descriptive, univariate, and multiple linear regression analyses assessed RBTS symptom severity and its relationship with various coping behaviors, controlling for sociodemographic factors like age, income, and employment. The study revealed that anger, avoidance, and intrusive thoughts were common RBTS symptoms, with average scores for these symptoms ranging from 48.2 to 49.4. Income was found to be a significant predictor of coping strategies, particularly religious coping and substance use, suggesting that socioeconomic factors influence how African American men manage RBTS. Findings highlight the critical need for culturally relevant mental health interventions that incorporate economic and coping dimensions to support African American men effectively. Future research should explore these relationships longitudinally to understand how coping mechanisms evolve and inform targeted interventions.