The relationship between racism and the mental health of working Black Women and Women of Colour - a Scoping Review

Abstract

Introduction Racism—both systemic and interpersonal—remains a pervasive global phenomenon with profound implications for mental health. Yet, the specific impact of racism on the mental well-being of working Black women and women of colour remains under-researched and poorly understood. This gap in the literature underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive review of global studies that examines the relationship between racism and the mental health of these women, whose experiences are shaped by intersecting systems of oppression in the workplace and beyond. Aim This comprehensive scoping review explores the intricate relationship between racism and mental health among working Black women and women of colour Methodology The PRISMA-ScR extension for scoping reviews was used to help organise the data into the context, concepts, searchable terms, inclusion and exclusion criteria and to identify the extracted data The following search terms were used Racism OR discrimination OR racial bias AND burnout OR mental health OR stress or depress* OR anxiety OR PTSD AND black women OR “women of colour” AND work OR occupation OR career OR employ* – (apply date range 2008 – 2023) in two databases, PsychInfo, and PubMed. Titles and abstracts were reviewed using inclusion and exclusion criteria. Through this approach we found 320 papers and after reviewing titles and abstract included 24 studies for final review. Results The review highlights how systemic and interpersonal forms of racism impact psychological well-being, underscoring the complex interplay between racism and mental health. It reveals that racism, both in its overt and subtle forms, adversely affects mental health outcomes, leading to heightened stress, anxiety, and depression among black and women of colour in the workplace. Studies described the impact of racial discrimination on brain function and the psychosocial effects observed in multiple workplaces. The analysis highlights significant gaps in the research, particularly the need to have more studies focusing on Black women and women of colour outside of the United States of America and the United Kingdom. While substantial research exists on the barriers faced by these groups in the workplace, there is a clear need for more global perspectives to understand how racism manifests in different parts of the world and affects mental health. v The review identifies a variety of mental health challenges like burnout, anxiety and the stressors that cause it, including work-related pressures, family dynamics, and societal challenges, with racial bias emerging as a particularly damaging factor. It discusses different coping strategies, noting that constructive coping methods, such as problem-focused and emotion-focused approaches, can mitigate stress's adverse effects on mental health. These themes underscore the necessity for understanding everyday experiences of racism and integrating this understanding into supportive practices. Conclusion: Given the pervasiveness of racism, there is a need for more focus on Black women and women of colour as this can ultimately also have an impact on their mental health as also evidenced in the research. Their experiences of racial discrimination remain under-researched and what clearly comes through in the review is the need for more research in low- and middle-income countries. Addressing this gap is essential to developing culturally responsive mental health interventions and workplace policies.