Sherrill L. Sellers

“Being black and feeling blue”: the mental health consequences of racial discrimination

Abstract The association between racial discrimination and mental health was examined using Wave 2 (1987–1988) and Wave 3 (1988–1989) panel data from the National Survey of Black Americans (NSBA). Mental health status was assessed by psychological distress and depression. In cross-sectional analyses, the perception of racial discrimination was related to high levels of psychological distress at Waves 2 and 3. Experiencing racial discrimination was marginally related to a high likelihood of depression at Wave 2. In longitudinal analyses, reports of racial discrimination at Wave 2 were associated with high levels of psychological distress at Wave 3. High psychological distress or depression at Wave 2 was not associated with reports of racial discrimination at Wave 3—indicating that poor mental health did not predict subjective reports (perceptions) of discrimination. The Discussion focused on possible directions for a more comprehensive program of research on mental health, stress, and experiences of racially based discrimination.

Race, Ethnicity, and Culture in the Sociology of Mental Health

The growing racial and ethnic heterogeneity of the U.S. population will require mental health researchers to think more seriously about socioculural variation. To date, researchers have not given sufficient attention to how race, ethnicity, and culture are linked to one another and to mental health. For instance, race can be an important factor in predicting exposure and vulnerability to stress, coping strategies, social support, and, in turn, mental health status. Race, however, grossly aggregates people and often hides subtle, and not so subtle, variations in mental health status and functioning. This aggregation masks and perhaps distorts ethnic differences and cultural influences within racial groups. It is neither scientifically nor clinically valid to categorize, sample or theorize about racial groups—such as Whites, Asians, Hispanics, or Blacks—without recognizing the ethnic variation and cultural influences within these populations.

Evaluation of Social Work Journal Quality: Citation versus Reputation Approaches

Although journals are the primary vehicle though which social work professionals explore innovative interventions, research strategies, and policy ideas, journal quality has received little attention in the literature. This project extends a 1990 study and presents multiple measures for assessing journal quality. The primary data source is a national survey of 556 faculty from accredited schools of social work; additional data were compiled from the Social Science Citation Index (SSCI). Findings indicate that journal rankings have changed since 1990 and are considerably different from the SSCI ratings. Multiple evaluation systems are recommended for assessing social work journal quality.

Effects of Racial Discrimination and Health Behaviors on Mental and Physical Health of Middle-Class African American Men

This research is an examination of the effects of racial discrimination and health-promoting behaviors on the physical and mental health of a sample of 399 well-educated African American men. One would think that the attainment of higher education would increase health-promoting behaviors and might decrease discriminatory experiences that impact health. However, regression analysis indicated a more complex picture. Health-promoting behaviors were positively related to mental health, whereas experiences of racial discrimination contributed to poorer mental health. Relationships between health-promoting behaviors and that of racial discrimination to physical health were found to be nonsignificant. In conclusion, the authors discuss the importance of culturally appropriate health-promotion efforts.

Effects of Goal-Striving Stress on the Mental Health of Black Americans∗

Although many scholars have theorized about how responding to the stress of blocked opportunities can affect the well-being of black Americans, few scholars have empirically examined the relationships between striving efforts, personal goals, and mental health among black Americans. This investigation examines the relationship between goal-striving stress and mental health in a national sample of black Americans. Results indicate that goal-striving stress is significantly related to lower levels of happiness, life satisfaction, self-esteem, and higher levels of psychological distress. We find that poverty status moderates the relationship between goal-striving stress and mental health. Compared to poorer persons, individuals above poverty with high goal-striving stress have significantly lower levels of happiness and life satisfaction. Overall, the findings provide a more complete context for understanding associations among socio-economic status, goal-striving stress, and adverse mental health outcomes among black Americans.

John Henryism and Self-Reported Physical Health Among High–Socioeconomic Status African American Men

We performed a cross-sectional survey of high-socioeconomic status (SES) African American men and their health to examine the relationship between John Henryism (the strong behavioral predisposition to directly confront barriers to upward social mobility) and self-reported physical health status. We found a positive association between John Henryism and better physical health among high-SES African American men. The study of social and behavioral implications of health of men of differing SES is required to develop strategies to improve the health of African American men.

Effects of Incentives and Prenotification on Response Rates and Costs in a National Web Survey of Physicians

Little is known about what strategies are cost-effective in increasing participation among physicians in surveys that are conducted exclusively via the web. To assess the effects of incentives and prenotification on response rates and costs, general internists (N = 3,550) were randomly selected from the American Medical Association (AMA) Masterfile and assigned to experimental groups that varied in the amount of a promised incentive (none, entry into a

Perceptions of Professional Social Work Journals: Findings from a National Survey.

200 lottery,

The relationship between internalization and self-esteem among black adults

50, or

Goal-Striving Stress and the Mental Health of College-Educated Black American Men: The Protective Effects of System-Blame

100) and prenotification (none, prenotification letter only, or prenotification letter containing a