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Linked fate and mental health among African Americans

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  • Monk, Ellis P.

Abstract

Linked fate, the feeling that what happens to one's group may indelibly shape one's own life, is variously conceptualized as an aspect of ethnoracial identity, expression of political solidarity, and/or sense of ethnoracial consciousness. In this study, I contend that, within the context of stigmatization, linked fate may also be compellingly conceptualized as an expression of collective threat and vulnerability with potential relevance for the mental health of African Americans, in particular. Nevertheless, existing research on race and mental health has remained silent on this issue, as linked fate has received little scholarly attention from researchers interested in mental health. Building on prior research on ethnoracial identity, stigmatization, and mental health among African Americans, I introduce linked fate as a neglected, yet important phenomenon among stigmatized minorities, which is deeply associated with ethnoracial identification and should also be considered when examining the consequences of ethnoracial identification on the mental health of African Americans. Using nationally-representative data and logistic regression, I find that linked fate not only fails to be health-protective but is significantly associated with poorer mental health among African Americans in the form of increased suffering from major depression, bipolar I, and anxiety disorders.

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  • Monk, Ellis P., 2020. "Linked fate and mental health among African Americans," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 266(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:266:y:2020:i:c:s0277953620305591
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113340
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Williams, D.R. & John, D.A. & Oyserman, D. & Sonnega, J. & Mohammed, S.A. & Jackson, J.S., 2012. "Research on discrimination and health: An exploratory study of unresolved conceptual and measurement issues," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 102(5), pages 975-978.
    2. Riolo, S.A. & Nguyen, T.A. & Greden, J.F. & King, C.A., 2005. "Prevalence of depression by race/ethnicity: Findings from the national health and nutrition examination survey III," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 95(6), pages 998-1000.
    3. Veenstra, Gerry, 2009. "Racialized identity and health in Canada: Results from a nationally representative survey," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 69(4), pages 538-542, August.
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    1. Dogan, Eyup & Madaleno, Mara & Inglesi-Lotz, Roula & Taskin, Dilvin, 2022. "Race and energy poverty: Evidence from African-American households," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    2. Myles D. Moody, 2022. "Vicarious Experiences of Major Discrimination and the Life Satisfaction of Black and White Adults from a Community Sample," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(6), pages 2725-2743, August.
    3. Erving, Christy L. & McKinnon, Izraelle I. & Van Dyke, Miriam E. & Murden, Raphiel & Udaipuria, Shivika & Vaccarino, Viola & Moore, Reneé H. & Booker, Bianca & Lewis, Tené T., 2024. "Superwoman Schema and self-rated health in black women: Is socioeconomic status a moderator?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 340(C).
    4. Harvey L. Nicholson Jr., 2023. "“I am African American†: Racial-ethnic self-designation, self-concept, and major depression among African Americans," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 69(3), pages 551-558, May.
    5. McKinnon, Izraelle I. & Johnson, Dayna A. & Murden, Raphiel J. & Erving, Christy L. & Parker, Rachel & Van Dyke, Miriam E. & Vaccarino, Viola & Booker, Bianca & Moore, Renee H. & Lewis, Tené T., 2023. "Extreme racism-related events and poor sleep in African-American women," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 316(C).
    6. McKinnon, Izraelle I. & Johnson, Dayna A. & Murden, Raphiel J. & Erving, Christy L. & Parker, Rachel & Van Dyke, Miriam E. & Vaccarino, Viola & Booker, Bianca & Moore, Renee H. & Lewis, Tené T., 2022. "Extreme racism-related events and poor sleep in African-American women," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 310(C).
    7. Carlos Daniel Tavares, 2023. "Perceived Racism and Health Among Black Americans: The Role of Racial Identity as a Moderator Over Time," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(1), pages 21582440231, February.
    8. Moody, Myles D. & Browning, Wesley R. & Hossain, Monir & Clay, Olivio J., 2023. "Vicarious experiences of major discrimination, anxiety symptoms, and mental health care utilization among Black Adults," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 316(C).

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