An Exploratory Investigation of the Relationship between Racism, Racial Identity, Perceptions of Health, and Health Locus of Control among Black American Women

Black American women are exposed to mainstream beauty standards, which may have implications for body image satisfaction. Given that beauty standards are often based on idealized depictions of White women’s physical features, scholars have called for body image research that extends beyond body type/weight (e.g., skin tone/hair) to better examine the experiences of Black women. In examining body image satisfaction and protective factors (e.g., ethnic identity), empirical research has yet to attend to these experiences at the intersection of race/ethnicity and gender. The current study used an online survey to examine whether womanist consciousness (WC) was a protective factor for Black American women ( N = 211). Findings indicated that after controlling for ethnic identity, higher womanist consciousness significantly predicted higher body satisfaction with historically racially defined features (e.g., skin tone/hair) and lower self-ideal discrepancy. Darker skin tone was linked to higher body importance and higher ethnic identity level. Last, increased frequency of wearing hair weaves was associated with lower body satisfaction while more frequently wearing Afrocentric hair styles/textures was associated with higher body satisfaction.

Download Full-text

Relationships Among the Internal Health Locus of Control, Mental Health Problems, and Subjective Well-Being of Adults in South Korea

Healthcare ◽

10.3390/healthcare9111588 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. 1588

Author(s):

Sunhwa Shin ◽

Eunhye Lee

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Locus Of Control ◽

South Korea ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Health Locus Of Control ◽

Well Being ◽

Health Problems ◽

Mediating Effect ◽

Subjective Well Being ◽

The Relationship

The purpose of this study was to confirm the relationship between internal health locus of control, mental health problems, and subjective well-being in adults during the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, the mediating effect of mental health problems on the relationship between internal health locus of control and subjective well-being was examined. A cross-sectional descriptive design was conducted via online survey. The participants were 600 adults over 20 years of age living in South Korea. The collected data were analyzed using hierarchical regression analysis and SPSS Process Macro (Model 4). As a result of the study, the internal health locus of control had a significant negative effect on mental health problems. In addition, in the process of the internal health locus of control affecting subjective well-being, the mediating effect of mental health problems was significantly shown. In the period of an infectious disease pandemic such as COVID-19, it is necessary to establish a strong internal health locus of control of individuals and to promote monitoring and treatment introduction for those with a low internal health locus of control. In addition, it was discussed that controlling mental health problems can improve subjective well-being, which is life satisfaction and happiness.

Download Full-text

African American Women, Racism and Triple Oppression

Interdisciplinary Journal of Management and Social Sciences ◽

10.3126/ijmss.v1i1.34615 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 113-117

Author(s):

Rajendra Prasad Chapagain

Keyword(s):

African American ◽

African American Women ◽

Racial Discrimination ◽

Black Men ◽

Black Males ◽

White Women ◽

Black American ◽

American Women ◽

Black American Women ◽

Sexual Repression

African American women have been made multiple victims: racial discrimination by the white community and sexual repression by black males of their own community. They have been subjected to both kind of discrimination - racism and sexism. It is common experience of black American women. Black American women do have their own peculiar world and experiences unlike any white or black men and white women. They have to fight not only against white patriarchy and white women's racism but also against sexism of black men within their own race. To be black and female is to suffer from the triple oppression- sexism, racism and classicism.

Download Full-text