학술논문
Intergenerational Transmission of Depression: Examining the Roles of Racism and Trauma Among Black Mothers and Youth.
Document Type
Academic Journal
Author
Mekawi Y; University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky. Electronic address: yara.mekawi@louisville.edu.; Ishiekwene MN; Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia.; Jimenez AN; Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia.; Ware M; University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky.; Carter SE; Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia.; Stenson AF; Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan.; Jovanovic T; Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan.; Bradley-Davino B; Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia; Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center, North Druid Hills, Georgia.; Powers A; Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.
Source
Publisher: Elsevier Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 8704565 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1527-5418 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 08908567 NLM ISO Abbreviation: J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry Subsets: MEDLINE
Subject
Language
English
Abstract
Objective: Racism is a multifaceted system of oppression that disproportionately harms Black mothers and children across the lifespan. Despite reliable evidence that racism is associated with worse mental health outcomes (eg, increased depressive symptoms), less is known about potential intergenerational effects of Black mothers' experiences of racism on children's mental health, as well as how traumatic experiences influence these pathways. In this cross-sectional quantitative study, we aimed (1) to replicate the finding that maternal experiences of racism are associated with both maternal and child depression; (2) to identify whether maternal experiences of racism are indirectly associated with child depression via the effect of maternal depression; and (3) to test whether the indirect effect of racism on child depression via maternal depression is conditioned on maternal trauma.
Method: Black mothers and their children (N = 148 dyads) were recruited from an urban hospital and were interviewed about their experiences of racism, trauma, and mental health symptoms. The mothers' average age was 35.16 years (SD = 8.75) and the children's average age was 10.03 years (SD = 1.51).
Results: First, we found that maternal experiences of racism were associated with more severe maternal depression (r = 0.37, p < .01) as well as more severe child depression (r = 0.19, p = .02). Second, we found that maternal experiences of racism were indirectly associated with child depression through the effect of maternal depression (ab = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.26, 1.37). Third, we found that maternal trauma exposure moderated this indirect effect such that, at relatively lower levels of maternal trauma exposure, the indirect effect of maternal experiences of racism on child depression was nonsignificant (ωlow = -0.05, 95% CI = -0.50, 0.45), whereas at relatively higher levels of maternal trauma exposure, the indirect effect of maternal experiences of racism on child depression was statistically significant (ω high = .65, 95% CI = 0.21, 1.15).
Conclusion: These findings suggest that the indirect effect of maternal experiences of racism on child depression through the effect of maternal depression depends on the degree of maternal trauma exposure. This study advances the literature by shedding light on key processes that can explain the intergenerational effects of racism as well as contextual factors that can exacerbate racism's downstream consequences across generations.
(Copyright © 2023 American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
Method: Black mothers and their children (N = 148 dyads) were recruited from an urban hospital and were interviewed about their experiences of racism, trauma, and mental health symptoms. The mothers' average age was 35.16 years (SD = 8.75) and the children's average age was 10.03 years (SD = 1.51).
Results: First, we found that maternal experiences of racism were associated with more severe maternal depression (r = 0.37, p < .01) as well as more severe child depression (r = 0.19, p = .02). Second, we found that maternal experiences of racism were indirectly associated with child depression through the effect of maternal depression (ab = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.26, 1.37). Third, we found that maternal trauma exposure moderated this indirect effect such that, at relatively lower levels of maternal trauma exposure, the indirect effect of maternal experiences of racism on child depression was nonsignificant (ω
Conclusion: These findings suggest that the indirect effect of maternal experiences of racism on child depression through the effect of maternal depression depends on the degree of maternal trauma exposure. This study advances the literature by shedding light on key processes that can explain the intergenerational effects of racism as well as contextual factors that can exacerbate racism's downstream consequences across generations.
(Copyright © 2023 American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)