Exploring stereotyping and health outcomes in black women with sickle cell disease

Background and Objective: The Strong Black Woman stereotype is understood as a gendered-racial construct that imposes ideals of resilience, self-sacrifice, and caregiving on Black women, often in the context of adversity. While the negative effects of discrimination on the mental health of racially minoritised populations are well-documented, the impact of intersecting discrimination—such as gendered-racial stereotyping—remains underexplored. This review aimed to synthesise observational evidence on the association between the SBW stereotype and depressive symptoms in Black women, addressing a significant gap in understanding the mental health consequences of this stereotype.

Methods: A systematic literature search across databases such as PubMed and PsycINFO identified observational studies investigating how adherence to the SBW stereotype relates to depression. These studies were subsequently narratively synthesised.

Results: Eighteen observational studies were identified, providing preliminary evidence for a direct association between the SBW stereotype and increased depressive symptoms in Black women. However, analysis of the SBW stereotype as a multidimensional construct revealed both negative and positive effects on depressive symptoms. These results highlight the need for further research on the SBW stereotype, with consideration for wider contextual factors that exacerbate or protect against the effects of discrimination.

Conclusion: These findings contribute to the expanding body of research on how discrimination operates to influence mental health and wellbeing in racially marginalised populations.