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Group Processes & Intergroup Relations, Vol. 10, No. 4, 471-491 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/1368430207081536
© 2007 SAGE Publications

Race and the Psychological Health of African Americans

Leslie Ashburn-Nardo

Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis, lashburn{at}iupui.edu

Margo J. Monteith

Purdue University

Steven A. Arthur

Purdue University

Amber Bain

Northwestern University

This study examined an array of race-related factors pertaining to psychological well-being and distress among 300 African American participants. Findings obtained via structural equation modeling pointed to the importance of having positive implicit ingroup attitudes for psychological health and underscored the significance of Black cultural immersion, particularly in shaping implicit attitudes. Support was obtained for three models: ingroup identity as an antecedent to perceived prejudice, which, in turn, was negatively associated with psychological health; ingroup identity as a consequence of perceived prejudice with positive implications for psychological health; and ingroup identity as a moderator of perceived prejudice, with stronger identity providing a buffer from prejudice. Findings illustrate the consequential and complex role of racial variables in African Americans' psychological health.

Key Words: implicit racial attitudes • ingroup identity • perceived prejudice • psychological distress • psychological well-being

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