Afrocentric Self‑Regard and Depression As Serial Mediators between Childhood Experiences and Substance Use

Background: Black Youth in the United States experience disproportionate exposure to structural and psychosocial stressors that contribute to an elevated risk for mental health difficulties. This elevated risk of mental health difficulties can lead to substance use and engagement in other risk-taking behaviors. Benevolent Childhood Experiences (BCEs) have been recognized as protective factors that promote positive mental health outcomes and reduce substance use among this population. While it is well documented that BCEs can buffer against depression and substance use, few studies have examined the mechanisms through which BCEs can reduce depression and substance use behaviors among black youth. To better understand BCEs and mental health outcomes among black youth, this study addressed the following research objective: to what extent does BCEs mediate the relationship between Afrocentric self-regard, substance use and depression among Young black people.

Methods: Participants were recruited via Qualtrics. The sample included Black youth (N = 619; 306 males, 313 females), aged 18–29, from 41 U.S. states and diverse socioeconomic backgrounds (annual income ranging from less than $10,000 to more than $60,000). All participants provided informed consent and completed an online survey. These surveys included the Substance Use Screening Tool of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA-Modified ASSIST), the Benevolent Childhood Experiences Scale, the African-Centered Self-Regard Scale for Black Youth, and the Brief Patient Health Questionnaire for depression measurement. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize participants’ demographics and correlations were used to summarize variables. Participants reported relatively high BCEs with (m = 7.77, SD = 2.15). Serial Mediation analysis was conducted, examining BCEs, Depression, Afrocentric Self-regard, and Substance Use to estimate direct and indirect effects.

Results: BCE were negatively associated with substance use (r = -0.13, p = 0.002) and depression (r = -0.19, p < 0.001), and positively associated with self-regard (r = 0.40, p < 0.001). The serial mediation model confirmed the indirect effect of BCE on reduced substance use through increased self-regard (CI [-0.40, -0.15]), through reduced depression (CI [-0.15, -0.02]), and through the full mediation pathway of BCE increasing self-regard, which decreases depression (CI [-0.09, -0.02]). The model explained 7.8% of the variance in substance use, F(3, 615) = 17.35, p < 0.001.

Conclusions and Implications:

The findings emphasize the importance of benevolent childhood experiences in promoting positive self-regard, which in turn is associated with lower substance use and depressive symptoms among Black youth. Notably, the result highlights the crucial role early positive childhood experiences play in shaping culturally grounded identity that can promote positive mental and behavioral outcomes. Future research is needed to explore the longitudinal pathways of these relationships: whether strengthening BCEs improves self‑regard and positive mental health outcomes over time, or whether interventions targeting self‑regard and depression enhance the protective influence of BCEs on mental and behavioral outcomes.