Race and Risk: The Influence of Racial Stress on Internalizing Symptoms and Health Behaviors Among College-Aged Black Women

We examined racism and racial stress among 199 college-aged Black women (M_age = 21.15). Racial stress predicted internalizing symptoms, marijuana use, and reduced physical activity. Skin tone and hair texture moderated effects. Findings highlight the clinical relevance of incorporating racism-related stress assessments into clinic intake evaluations for culturally responsive care.