Parents and God: Examining the Quality of Relational Ties for Black Undergraduate Women’s Depressive Symptoms

Black undergraduate women in the United States tend to report higher levels of religiosity and spirituality when compared to their counterparts in other racial/ethnic groups. These factors are often associated with positive mental health outcomes. For Black Americans in college, parental relationships have likewise been associated with a range of academic and social outcomes. However, limited research has examined how perceptions of relationship quality with both parents and God are jointly associated with depressive symptoms. Guided by interpersonal acceptance—rejection theory (IPARTheory), which emphasizes the psychological consequences of perceived acceptance and rejection in significant relationships, this study examined associations between parental relationship quality, relationship with God, and depressive symptoms among Black undergraduate women. Using data from the Multi-Site University Study of Identity and Culture (N = 621 Black undergraduates; Mage = 19.79; range: 18–25 years old), hierarchical regression analyses indicated that spiritual disappointment and paternal disrespect were associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms. These findings highlight the importance of considering both parental and spiritual relational contexts when investigating depressive symptoms among Black undergraduate women.