Inviting Culture into Her Wellness: The Moderating Effects of African Centered Coping on Suicide Risk Factors Among Black Women

Vanessa  Oliphant; LaRicka Wingate; Olufunke Benson

doi:10.29333/ejecs/2050

Authors

Vanessa Oliphant Oklahoma State University https://orcid.org/0009-0007-7844-6247
LaRicka Wingate Oklahoma State University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0387-7487
Olufunke Benson Oklahoma State University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9585-3596

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29333/ejecs/2050

Keywords:

Africultural coping, Black women, suicide

Abstract

There is a need for greater emphasis to be placed on the lived experiences of Black women in psychological research, and more specifically, Black women’s experiences with suicide ideation. Despite having the lowest suicide rates, prior research indicates an increase in suicide ideation among Black women and girls. The current study aims to evaluate the moderating effects of Black women’s implementation of culturally specific ways of coping (i.e., Africultural coping skills) to pinpoint protective strategies against interpersonal suicide risk factors, thwarted belongingness, and perceived burdensomeness. 99 (M age = 23) cisgender African American/Black women were surveyed, and results indicated that spiritual centered coping both significantly and negatively moderated the relationship between perceived burdensomeness and suicide ideation (B = -0.00, t = -2.29, p = .02, 95% CI [-.0085, -.0006]). Additionally, ritual centered coping significantly and negatively moderated the relationship between perceived burdensomeness and suicide ideation (B = -.009, t = -2.05, p = .04, 95% CI [-.0179, -.0003]). Findings suggest that spiritual and ritual centered coping can be protective strategies for Black women by weakening the relationship between suicide ideation and the interpersonal suicide risk factor perceived burdensomeness.

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Author Biographies

Vanessa Oliphant, Oklahoma State University

Vanessa Oliphant is a fifth-year Doctoral Candidate in the Department of Psychology at Oklahoma State University working towards her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology; Fall 2025 she will be an Assistant Professor of African American Studies and Psychology at the University of Mississippi. Her research interests include finding ways to combine African/Black Psychology and African American Studies to identify culturally specific methods for healing. Her email address is Vanessa.oliphant@okstate.edu.

LaRicka Wingate, Oklahoma State University

Olufunke Benson is a third-year Doctoral Student in the Department of Psychology at Oklahoma State University working towards her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. Her research interests include exploring suicide risk and protective factors for Black/African American communities. Her email address is Olufunke.benson@okstate.edu.

Olufunke Benson, Oklahoma State University

Dr. LaRicka Wingate is a Full Professor in the Department of Psychology and a Faculty Affiliate in the Department of Africana Studies at Oklahoma State University. Dr. Wingate is the director of the Black Equity and Mental Health (BEAM) Lab, which produces culture-specific content, including racial microaggressions, ethnic discrimination and ethnic identity, and suicidology. Her email address is laricka.wingate@okstate.edu*

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