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Authenticity, Racial Discrimination, Depression, and Suicidal Ideation Among Young Black Men, United States, 2024
Donte T Boyd1, Myles I Durkee1, Deon W Brown1
1Donte T. Boyd is with the College of Social Work, The Ohio State University, Columbus. Myles I. Durkee is with the Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Deon W. Brown is with the Program in the Human Development and Family and Sciences, Department of Psychological, Health and Learning Sciences, College of Education, University of Houston, Houston, TX. Andrea S. Constant is with the Department of Sociology, The Ohio State University, Columbus.
American Journal of Public Health
|August 6, 2025
Summary
Perceived authenticity acts as a protective factor for young Black men, reducing suicidal ideation and depressive symptoms. This finding highlights the importance of authenticity in mental health interventions for this demographic.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Sociology
Background:
- Racial discrimination poses significant mental health risks for young Black men.
- Understanding protective factors is crucial for developing effective mental health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential buffering effect of perceived authenticity against racial discrimination.
- To examine the association between perceived authenticity and mental health outcomes (depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation) in young Black men.
Main Methods:
- Online survey data collected from 350 Black men aged 18-24 in the United States.
- Validated self-report questionnaires measured perceived authenticity, racial discrimination, depressive symptoms, and suicidal ideation.
- Statistical analyses, including regression, were used to assess the relationships and interaction effects.
Main Results:
- Perceived authenticity was significantly associated with reduced suicidal ideation (b = -0.24, P < .001) and depressive symptoms (b = -0.22, P < .001).
- A significant interaction effect was found for suicidal ideation (b = -0.09, P = .045), indicating authenticity's protective role.
- No significant interaction effect was observed for depressive symptoms (b = 0.02, P = .58).
Conclusions:
- Perceived authenticity serves as a significant protective factor for the mental well-being of young Black men.
- Interventions aimed at enhancing perceived authenticity may be beneficial for mitigating the negative impacts of racial discrimination.
- These findings have important implications for public health strategies targeting mental health disparities in minority populations.
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