Racism-related stress and mental health among black women living in Los Angeles County, California: A comparison of postpartum mood and anxiety disorder screening scales

Abstract

Purpose

To assess Black women’s exposure to and appraisal of racism-related stress during the postpartum period and to distinguish its impact on three indicators of postpartum mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) symptoms.

Methods

Data from the Black Mothers’ Mental Wellness Study (N = 231) and linear regression models estimated the associations between racism-related stress and the PMAD indicators: 3-item Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS-3), 8-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8), and PHQ-15.

Results

The majority of participants (80.5%, N = 186) experienced racism a few times a year or more, of which 37.1% (N = 69) were bothered somewhat and 19.3% (N = 36) a lot. Racism-related stress, income, level of education, and history of mental health diagnosis explained greater variance in PMAD symptoms as measured by the PHQ-8 score (R² = 0.58, p =  < 0.001) compared to the EPDS-3 (R² = 0.46, p =  < 0.001) or the PHQ-15 (R² = 0.14, p = 0.035).

Conclusions

Racism is a stressor for Black women living in Los Angeles County, California. Racism-related stress and emotional expression of PMAD symptoms were salient to the postpartum mental health of the Black women in this study. Findings from this study suggest that the PHQ-8 should be used to assess how racism impacts Black women’s postpartum mental health.