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ViewAttendees 4

Symposia

Racial Trauma

Race-Related Stress and Alcohol Use Severity: A Moderated Mediation of Racial Centrality and Justice Involvement Among Black American Adults

3 - (SYM 48) Race-Related Stress and Alcohol Use Severity: A Moderated Mediation of Racial Centrality and Justice Involvement Among Black American Adults

Saturday, November 22, 2025
4:11 PM - 4:30 PM CST
Location: Bolden 2, Level 2
Keywords: Racial Trauma, African Americans / Black Americans, Culture
Recommended Readings: Pieterse, A. L., Todd, N. R., Neville, H. A., & Carter, R. T. (2012). Perceived racism and mental health among Black American adults: a meta-analytic review. Journal of counseling psychology, 59(1), 1.,   Carter, R. T. (2007). Racism and psychological and emotional injury: Recognizing and assessing race-based traumatic stress. The Counseling Psychologist, 35(1), 13-105.,   Jernigan, M. M., & Daniel, J. H. (2011). Racial trauma in the lives of Black children and adolescents: Challenges and clinical implications. Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma, 4(2), 123-141.,   Williams, M., Osman, M., & Hyon, C. (2023). Understanding the psychological impact of oppression using the trauma symptoms of discrimination scale. Chronic Stress, 7, 24705470221149511.,  
Abstract Body
Racism remains a systemic and persistent global issue, serving as a mechanism of social exclusion that prevents racial and ethnic minoritized groups from fully participating in society. For justice-involved individuals, the intersection of racial discrimination and legal system history creates additional interpersonal, environmental, and structural barriers. To mitigate the cognitive and physical impacts of racism, some may engage in substance-use-related coping behaviors. While prior research has established a link between racial discrimination and alcohol consumption, less is known about its association with alcohol use disorder (AUD). Moreover, racial identity centrality (RIC)—the extent to which individuals define themselves in terms of their racial group—may moderate this relationship, either buffering against or exacerbating the effects of racism on health outcomes. This study examines the association between experiences of racism and AUD and the moderating role of RIC. Participants (N = 544) self-identified as Black (or African American), with 31% identifying as justice-involved (i.e., having an adult criminal record) and 69% as non-justice-involved. Results indicated a significant positive relationship between racism and AUD (b = 1.17, p < .001) and between RIC and AUD (b = .60, p < .05). Notably, a significant interaction between racism and RIC (b = -0.03, p < .015) suggests that RIC moderates this relationship. Specifically, individuals with higher RIC reported weaker associations between racism and AUD, while those with lower RIC demonstrated stronger associations, indicating that RIC can function as a protective factor against racism’s harmful effects. Justice-involvement status (b = -5.76, p < .001) and age (b = -0.10, p < .001) were also significant predictors of AUD, with justice-involved individuals reporting higher alcohol use and older adults reporting lower use. These findings highlight the dual systems of oppression faced by Black Americans and underscore the importance of identity development and systemic racism in shaping health outcomes. Future interventions should consider these intersecting factors to mitigate substance use disparities.