Author ORCID Identifier
0009-0006-8810-3128
Defense Date
2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Fantasy Lozada
Abstract
Black adolescents are at an increased risk of experiencing racial discrimination due to a developmental period marked by increased time away from parents and caregivers and increased time with peers (Fisher et al., 2000). Empirical research has shown that Black adolescents’ experiences of racial discrimination are associated with emotion dysfunction (Benner et al., 2018; Seaton et al., 2009; Sellers et al., 2006). Although previous research has identified racial factors such as racial socialization and racial identity as protective factors by reducing the impact of racial discrimination on Black adolescents’ emotion dysfunction (Gibson et al., 2021; Neblett et al., 2008), we know little about how racial emotion skills may also demonstrate protective properties in this association. Emotion regulation flexibility abilities have recently been described by researchers as holding protective promises in assisting Black adolescents navigate experiences of racial discrimination (Lozada et al., 2022). Context sensitivity has been identified as a critical component of the emotion regulation flexibility process (Bonanno & Burton, 2013); thus, the current study seeks to examine general and racial context sensitivity capacities among Black adolescents and examine whether these context sensitivity skills moderate the association between their experiences of racial discrimination and emotion dysfunction. In the current study, I examined Black adolescents’ ages 12-15 (N=286) general and racial discrimination-based context sensitivity abilities, experiences of racial discrimination, and emotion dysfunction (anxiety and depression). I found that general cue absence ability was not a significant moderator between racial discrimination and anxiety or depression, although it did predict lower anxiety. Cue presence ability served as a moderator for anxiety, but not depression. Specifically, higher levels of cue presence detection buffered the association between racial discrimination and anxiety. Lastly, threat-cue and power-cue detection, using a discrimination-based measure, both served as moderators for anxiety and depression, respectively. Specifically, higher levels of threat-cue and power-cue detection abilities weakened the association between higher levels of racial discrimination and emotion dysfunction.
Rights
© The Author
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
11-28-2025