Advisor(s)
Karen Cropsey
Committee Member(s)
Clay Olivo
Grant Merida
School
College of Arts and Sciences
Document Type
Thesis
Department (new version)
Psychology
Date of Award
6-3-2025
Abstract
African Americans (AAs) are less likely to report internalized symptoms and substance use compared to other racial groups but tend to report more severe symptoms related to either condition. Research suggests internalized symptoms and substance use share a causal relationship or an underlying factor that contributes to both conditions. Risk factors such as stress, discrimination, and trauma strengthen the relationship between anxiety and substance use in AAs. A higher prevalence of stress, discrimination, and trauma exposure was found in AAs when compared to other racial groups, increasing AAs risk for internalized symptoms and substance use. While it is important to investigate risk factors, it’s also important to investigate protective factors that alleviate the relationship between anxiety and substance use. For instance, AAs are less likely to utilize psychological treatment preferring to utilize their support system as a coping mechanism. However, social support plays a complex role in the relationship between anxiety and substance use. Positive social support reduces internalized symptoms and substance use, while negative social support increases both conditions, highlighting the need for further investigation. The present study investigated the relationship between anxiety and substance use, along with two-way and three-way interactions between stress, discrimination, trauma exposure, anxiety, and substance use. While controlling for age and gender, multivariate analyses supported the hypothesis that stress strengthened the relationship between anxiety and substance use among AAs. Contrary to our hypothesis that social support would weaken substance use, our findings revealed that social support unexpectedly strengthened the association between anxiety and substance use. Finally, no significant two-way or three-way interactions were found among risk factors, discrimination, trauma exposure, anxiety, and substance use. Future research is needed to explore other risks and protective factors that play a more pivotal role in the relationship between anxiety and substance use. The findings emphasize the importance of tailored substance use treatments, which include stress management strategies, and promote fostering healthy and supportive relationships.
ProQuest ID
Recommended Citation
Black, Dominique Ashonta, "Examining Risk And Protective Factors Of African Americans Who Use Substances" (2025). All ETDs from UAB. 7326.
https://digitalcommons.library.uab.edu/etd-collection/7326
