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Correlates of depression among Black girls exposed to violence

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Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Depression rates for youth remanded to juvenile detention is double that of the general population and Black girls are especially vulnerable. A dearth of literature analyzes the factors that are correlated with depression among system-involved Black girls, ages 12–17 years old. We utilized personal agency to examine the relationship between risk factors (i.e., abuse history, and fear of condom negotiation) and protective factors (i.e., condom self-efficacy, and perceived social support) that might correlate with depression among Black girls exposed to violence. Findings indicate that fear of condom negotiation, abuse history and low condom self-efficacy are correlated with depressive symptomology while self-esteem and perceived social support are protective factors that may serve as a buffer against girls’ feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. The findings of this study suggest several implications for prevention and intervention efforts to reduce the depression-related risks among justice-involved Black females, including strategies that promote healing within their social support networks.

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Funding

This study was funded by National Center for HIVAIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP) (5UR6PS000679–04).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Social Work, Adelphi University, Garden City, NY, USA

    Bernadine Waller

  2. College of Social Work, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA

    Camille R. Quinn

  3. Graduate College of Social Work, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA

    Donte Boyd

  4. School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, NY, USA

    Ralph DiClemente

  5. Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

    Dexter R. Voisin

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  1. Bernadine Waller
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  2. Camille R. Quinn
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  3. Donte Boyd
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  4. Ralph DiClemente
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  5. Dexter R. Voisin
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Correspondence to Bernadine Waller.

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Conflict of Interest

Bernadine Waller declares that she has no conflict of interest. Camille R. Quinn declares that she has no conflict of interest. Donte Boyd declares that he has no conflict of interest. Ralph DiClemente declares that he has no conflict of interest. Dexter R. Voisin declares that he has no conflict of interest.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Waller, B., Quinn, C.R., Boyd, D. et al. Correlates of depression among Black girls exposed to violence. J. Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities 9, 146–155 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-020-00937-x

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