The Depressive Symptomatology of Black College Men: Preliminary Findings

Abstract

Black Americans have poorer health than the rest of the nation and are exposed to a wider range of social and environmental factors that adversely impact their health. Although it may be presumed that men who acquire a college education will also attain middle-class status, middle-class status does not provide Black men with the anticipated reductions for at least some health risks. This study presents preliminary findings from a study designed to assess the prevalence of depressive symptoms among Black college men (n=115) at a predominately white institution and a historically Black institution. Results suggest that although depressive symptoms for the Black college men in the sample were relatively low, participants from the predominately white institution reported slightly higher on individual depression items and had a higher total depression score than participants from the historically Black institution. Findings from this study have implications for the provision of adequate mental health services for Black college men as well as future research conducted with this population regarding their health and health behaviors.