Objective

Indirect exposure to racism experienced by a caregiver (ie, vicarious racism) is associated with poor outcomes for children, but mechanisms of vicarious racism transmission are poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between experiences of racial discrimination and parenting among African American mothers and to identify psychological mediators and moderators of this relationship.

Method

African American mothers (N = 250) with young children (mean age = 3.7 years old) reported on perceived racial discrimination (Race-Related Events Scale), parenting (Parenting Stress Index, Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire), coping (Coping Strategies Index), and mental health (Stress Overload Scale, Beck Depression Inventory). Multivariable linear regression was used to examine associations between perceived racial discrimination and parenting and to test coping as a moderator of these relationships. Ordinary least-squares regression-based path analysis with bootstrapping was used to examine mediation by stress overload and depressive symptoms.

Results

At least one experience of racial discrimination was reported by 57% of women. Experiences of racial discrimination were associated with increased parenting stress (β = 0.69, p = .02), and this relationship was mediated by stress overload (95% CI [0.35, 1.09]) and depressive symptoms (95% CI [0.27, 1.18]). Racial discrimination was not associated with parenting styles, and coping strategies largely did not moderate the relationships examined.

Conclusion

Racial discrimination has harmful intergenerational effects on African American children and families. Systemic-level interventions are needed, including adoption of policies to promote racial justice and eliminate structural racism in the United States. Future research on coping strategies specific to racism-related stress is needed to inform approaches to intervention.

中文翻译：

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非裔美国学龄前儿童母亲的种族歧视、心理健康和育儿

客观的

照顾者间接接触种族主义（即替代种族主义）与儿童的不良结果有关，但对替代种族主义传播的机制知之甚少。本研究的目的是检验非洲裔美国母亲的种族歧视经历与养育子女之间的关系，并确定这种关系的心理调解者和调节者。

方法

有幼儿（平均年龄 = 3.7 岁）的非洲裔美国母亲（N = 250）报告了感知到的种族歧视（种族相关事件量表）、育儿（育儿压力指数、育儿方式和维度问卷）、应对（应对策略指数), 和心理健康（压力过载量表，贝克抑郁量表）。多变量线性回归被用来检查感知到的种族歧视和育儿之间的关联，并测试应对作为这些关系的调节者。基于普通最小二乘回归的路径分析和引导程序用于检查压力超载和抑郁症状的调解。

结果

57% 的女性报告过至少一次种族歧视经历。种族歧视经历与养育压力增加有关 (β = 0.69, p  = .02)，这种关系由压力超载 (95% CI [0.35, 1.09]) 和抑郁症状 (95% CI [0.27, 1.18) 介导]). 种族歧视与养育方式无关，应对策略在很大程度上不会缓和所检查的关系。

结论

种族歧视对非裔美国儿童和家庭具有有害的代际影响。需要系统层面的干预措施，包括采取政策促进种族正义和消除美国的结构性种族主义。未来需要研究针对种族主义相关压力的特定应对策略，以便为干预方法提供信息。