Minority Status Stress: Effect on the Psychological and Academic Functioning of African-American Students

Authors: Parker M.N.; Jones R.T.

Source: Journal of Gender, Culture and Health, Volume 04, Number 1, March 1999 , pp. 61-82(22)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

Research suggests that the academic performance and psychological adaptation of African-American students on a predominantly White university setting is impacted by specific, unique cultural factors (i.e., sociocultural orientation and minority status stress). This investigation involved a test of a model examining the extent to which sociocultural orientation styles and perceived social support impact the effect of Minority Status Stress (perceived stressors attributed to being an ethnic minority) on the academic and psychological functioning of African-American students at a predominantly White university. Eighty African-American undergraduate and graduate students were administered self-report questionnaires to assess their standing on the relevant variables. Path analytic techniques supported a linear relationship in which sociocultural orientation of students impacted the level of minority status stress experienced, which in turn impacted students perceived social support. All of these factors had a significant impact on the students' psychological adaptation to the predominantly White university environment.

Keywords: minority; stress; African-American; social support; Black students

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Department of Psychology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061-0436

Publication date: 1999-03-01