What is it about?

Black women often experience gendered racism—discrimination tied to both race and gender—which can negatively affect their mental health. This study explored how two key factors may explain the impact of that discrimination: psychological armoring (putting up emotional defenses that can limit flexibility) and imbalanced support roles (giving more support than receiving). Researchers found that when Black women feel unsupported or carry more of the emotional load in relationships, it is connected to greater distress and trauma symptoms. These findings help us better understand how coping and support systems affect mental health and point to new ways to offer culturally responsive care.

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Why is it important?

This study shows that two changeable factors—psychological armoring (putting up emotional walls to cope) and unequal support roles (giving more support than receiving)—can affect Black women’s mental health. By better understanding how Black women cope and looking at how support is shared in their relationships, mental health professionals can find more effective and culturally sensitive ways to help. Using approaches that are tailored to Black women’s experiences may lead to better care and support.

Perspectives

As Black women continue to endure both acute and chronic stressors related to gendered racism, the current study stresses the importance of broadening understanding of mental health outcomes, including trauma symptoms from discrimination and coping responses that can serve to maintain or intensify mental health problems. This study proposes an acceptance-based framework coupled with culturally affirming therapies that can be targeted for wellness-promoting interventions.

Shane A. Stori
George Mason University

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: Centering malleable factors in Black women’s mental health: How psychological armoring and social support role dynamics connect to trauma symptoms from gendered racism., American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, May 2025, American Psychological Association (APA),
DOI: 10.1037/ort0000853.
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