Refining Black men's depression measurement using participatory approaches: a concept mapping study

Area of Science:

• Mental Health Research
• Cultural Psychiatry
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Black Americans exhibit lower depression prevalence than whites despite socioeconomic disadvantages.
• Culturally informed depression measures are crucial for marginalized populations.
• Race and gender factors may mask mental health needs in Black men.

Purpose of the Study:

• To understand how stakeholders conceptualize depressive symptoms in Black men.
• To address gaps in culturally informed depression assessment for Black men.
• To inform the development of new depression scales.

Main Methods:

• A stakeholder-driven, community-engaged concept mapping study.
• Involved 36 participants: Black men, Black women, and primary care providers.
• Utilized a structured mixed-methods approach over three phases.

Main Results:

• Identified 68 characteristics of depression in Black men, grouped into five clusters.
• Key clusters included physical states, emotional states, diminished drive, internal conflicts, and communication.
• The "social pressures" cluster was notably absent from common depression scales.

Conclusions:

• Findings reveal diverse expressions of depressed mood among Black men.
• Results offer a unique opportunity for culturally informed scale development.
• Emphasizes the need for nuanced approaches to identify mental health needs in this demographic.