ABSTRACT

Anxiety is among the most prevalent psychiatric conditions, yet little attention has been paid to whether putative cognitive vulnerability factors related to anxiety in predominantly White samples are related to anxiety among Black individuals. Yet, given less mental health service utilization and greater experience of some life stressors, Black persons may be especially at risk for using false safety behaviors (FSB; designed to decrease anxiety in the short term, but are associated with more longer-term mental health problems). We tested whether non-Hispanic/Latin Black persons (n = 133) reported greater FSB use than non-Hispanic/Latin White participants (n = 844) as well as whether FSB use was related to more mental health problems among Black participants. Data were collected online among undergraduates. Black participants did endorse more frequent FSB use, especially FSB-Avoidance and FSB-Body Sensations. Results indicate that among Black participants, FSB use was related to more anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. FSB may be an important behavioral vulnerability factor related to anxiety and associated mental health problems among Black young adults.

摘要

焦虑是最普遍的精神疾病之一，但很少有人关注与主要白人样本中的焦虑相关的推定认知脆弱性因素是否与黑人个体的焦虑相关。然而，考虑到较少的心理健康服务利用和对某些生活压力源的更多体验，黑人可能特别容易使用错误的安全行为（FSB；旨在在短期内减少焦虑，但与更长期的心理健康相关问题）。我们测试了非西班牙裔/拉丁裔黑人 ( n  = 133) 报告的 FSB 使用率是否高于非西班牙裔/拉丁裔白人参与者 ( n = 844) 以及 FSB 的使用是否与黑人参与者的更多心理健康问题有关。数据是在本科生中在线收集的。黑人参与者确实支持更频繁地使用 FSB，尤其是 FSB-Avoidance 和 FSB-Body Sensations。结果表明，在黑人参与者中，FSB 的使用与更多的焦虑、抑郁以及自杀念头和行为有关。FSB 可能是与黑人年轻人的焦虑和相关心理健康问题相关的重要行为脆弱因素。