To Be Female, Middle Class, Anxious, and Black

Bibliographic Data

ID12005175
AuthorsAngela Neal-Barnett (0000-0001-8287-5422, Kent State University, corresponding author), Angela M Neal-Barnett (Kent State University), Janis H Crowther (Kent State University)
Year2000
Volume24
Issue2
Pages129-136
Publication date2000-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePsychology of Women Quarterly (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0361-6843 • E-ISSN: 1471-6402
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1111/j.1471-6402.2000.tb00193.x
OpenAlexW2047518926
LanguageEN
Citations received21
References cited23

Women of color theorists have suggested that the double minority status of gender and ethnicity places African American women at higher risk for anxiety. However, little information is available about anxiety disorders among African American women. The existing literature subsumes Black women under the general category of African Americans and focuses on low-income samples. In this study, we examine the manifestation of panic disorder in a sample of 15 predominantly middle-class African American women. We then compare these women to a group of 35 predominantly middle-class African American women without panic disorder on several factors, including presence of isolated sleep paralysis, presence of other anxiety disorders, help-seeking behavior, and victimization. Results indicate that African American women with panic disorder experienced isolated sleep paralysis, and that both groups had high levels of sexual victimization. Help-seeking among women with panic and other anxiety disorders was limited to relationship difficulties, sexual assault, and bereavement

African american · Anxiety · Anxiety disorder · Ethnic group · Middle class · Panic · Panic disorder · Psychiatry · Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Clinical Psychology · Psychology · Youth Substance Use and School Attendance