Date of Award

8-2025

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology

First Advisor

Mark St. Martin, Ph.D.

Second Advisor

Mary Z. Anderson, Ph.D.

Third Advisor

Mariam Konaté, Ph.D.

Fourth Advisor

Martinique Jones, Ph.D.

Keywords

Collective coping, gendered racial identity, strong black woman schema, superwoman schema

Abstract

Prior research on the Strong Black Woman (SBW)/Superwoman (SW) schema has produced mixed findings. Both positive and negative outcomes of Black women’s internalization of this schema have been identified. These mixed findings may be linked to the measurement of the SBW/SW schema and the relationship with other culturally relevant variables. There have been significant positive relationships identified between Black women’s gendered racial identity (GRID) and the internalization of gendered racial stereotypes (i.e., the SBW/SW). Methods for coping with stereotypes have also been identified as influential when considering Black women’s coping behaviors.

The purpose of this study is to examine the mediating effects of GRID-centrality (the salience of one’s identity as a Black woman) on the relationship between Black women’s internalization of the SBW/SW stereotype characteristics and Black women’s engagement in Collective coping. The literature review and proposed method supports the investigation of the following research questions: 1) What is the relationship between Black women’s internalization of the SBW/SW stereotype, as measured by the Giscombé Superwoman Scale (G-SWS-Q), and Collective coping, as measured by the Africultural Coping Systems Inventory (ACSI)? 2) What is the relationship between Black women’s internalization of the SBW/SW and GRID- centrality, as measured by the Multidimensional Inventory of Gendered Racial Identity (MGRIS)? 3) What is the relationship between GRID-centrality and Collective coping? 4) Does GRID-centrality mediate the relationship between Black women’s internalization of the SBW/SW schema and Collective coping? Descriptive and inferential (i.e., Pearson correlation and mediation) statistical analyses are utilized. GRID-centrality was not found to significantly mediate the relationship between Black women’s internalization of the SBW/SW schema and Collective coping. Follow up analysis revealed that GRID-centrality moderated the relationship between two SBW/SW schema characteristics (obligation to suppress emotions and intense motivation to succeed) and Collective coping. Findings suggest that further exploration is needed to understand relationships between the SBW/SW schema, GRID-centrality, and Collective coping. The current study is significant in that it provides further insight into the complexity of Black women’s gendered racial experiences.

Access Setting

Dissertation-Open Access

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