Hidden strengths: The impact of an Africentric worldview on race-related stress, depression, and interpersonal violence among African-American males

Although there have been several theories attempting to explain how African-Americans continue to weather the effects of racial oppression, there is limited published empirical evidence that offers an understanding of their resiliency. This study empirically tested the relationship between experiencing racism and psychological functioning among African-American men. It also examined the extent to which an Africentric worldview mediates the proposed relationship between experiencing racism, depression, and within-group interpersonal violence.;This study was guided by Myers' (1982) stress-coping model and Akbar's (1991) Africentric Model of Mental Health. Racism was operationalized as race-related stress, degree of intra-racial interpersonal violence and level of depression served as indicators of psychological functioning.;A total of eighty-four (84) African-American men between the ages of 18 and 35 comprised the sample for the study. Participants were obtained from parks, barber shops, coffeehouses, and two community-sponsored music festivals located in the Los Angeles area. Participants completed a pencil-and-paper questionnaire that measured experiences of race-related stress, adherence to an Africentric worldview, level of depression, and level of interpersonal violence directed at another African-American. The inventory to assess interpersonal violence was developed by the investigator and piloted on a sample of ten African-American men.;It was hypothesized that: (a) race-related stress, depression, and violence would be significantly positively related; (b) Africentric worldview would mediate the relationship between race-related stress, depression, and violence; and (c) depression and violence would be significantly positively related. Results revealed that racism, particularly daily race-related hassles, negatively impacted the psychological functioning of the African-American males in the study. Findings also indicated that an Africentric worldview served as a buffer against the impact of racism. Two additional roles of an Africentric worldview were uncovered in post hoc analyses. Results also confirmed that level of depression and interpersonal violence were related.;Compared to traditional approaches used to explore aspects of emotional functioning among African-Americans, this study used more culturally-appropriate models and focused on strengths. Clinical and theoretical implications of the results are discussed. Additionally, suggestions for future research are provided.