Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-1-2023
Abstract
Despite the common use of religious buffers, African Americans are disproportionately affected by depressive symptoms. Communal coping may serve as one factor in helping religious African American couples alleviate the symptoms of depression. This study examines the association between relational sanctification and depressive symptoms as mediated by the communal coping of 467 African American married and cohabiting couples. Data from the sampled couples were analyzed using a common fate model, and analyses revealed higher scores on the measure of sanctification were associated with more communal coping; more communal coping was associated with fewer depressive symptoms among women and men, and communal coping acted as a mediator between relational sanctification and depressive symptoms in both partners. Findings from this study underscore the importance of considering how the religiosity and cooperative action of African American couples relate to depressive symptoms.
Publication Source (Journal or Book title)
Journal of Marital and Family Therapy
First Page
899
Last Page
917
Recommended Citation
Skipper, A., Rose, A., Card, N., Moore, T., Lavender-Bratcher, D., & Chaney, C. (2023). Relational sanctification, communal coping, and depression among African American couples. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 49 (4), 899-917. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12665