Here’s Why Depression in Black Women Might Be Overlooked

A new study finds that depressive symptoms in Black women don’t always look the same as other groups

By Alexa Spencer Word In Black

Exposure to racism and other stressors increases the risk for depression in Black folks and other people of color. But for Black women — who are impacted by racism, sexism, and other forms of oppression — their depressive symptoms appear differently than other groups and may go overlooked by doctors.

A Dec. 2022 paper published in Nursing Research revealed that Black women are less likely to report stereotypical symptoms of depression such as sadness or hopelessness. Instead, they’re noting trouble sleeping, self-criticism, irritability, and an inability to experience pleasure.

This discovery — made by researchers at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing and Columbia University School of Nursing — could mean Black women aren’t getting the mental health care they need.

“Based on our findings, it’s possible that health care providers may miss depression symptoms in Black women, resulting in underdiagnosis and undertreatment,” Nicole Perez, Ph.D., RN, a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner and postdoctoral associate at NYU Rory

Meyers College of Nursing and the lead author of the study, said in a statement.

Black women are particularly at risk for major depressive disorder — or clinical depression — due to them bearing societal burdens of poverty, single parenthood, and racial and gender discrimination.

Depression is a serious mental illness that can impact how a person feels, thinks, or acts. It can also lead to emotional and physical problems that make it difficult to function at work or at home.

The illness is diagnosed by providers based on symptoms reported by patients during an evaluation. Some other symptoms that are considered common include low mood, loss of interest in activities, and changes in appetite or sleep.

While there are “common” symptoms, the reality is that depression appears uniquely for everyone. With over 1,500 possible combinations of symptoms that meet the criteria for a depressive disorder, it’s not