Abstract
African American women face distinct gendered racial stereotypes, which could prompt stereotype confirmation concerns, or the chronic uncertainty and apprehension about confirming stereotypes about their group. These stereotype confirmation concerns could contribute to anxiety symptoms, especially if women feel pressure to alter their language, behaviors, perspective, and appearance to disconfirm such stereotypes (i.e., identity shifting). The present study examined the interrelations between stereotype confirmation concerns, identity shifting, and anxiety symptoms in African American women. Additionally, identity shifting as a moderator between stereotype confirmation concerns and anxiety symptoms was assessed. Participants included 289 Black/African American women who ranged in age from 18 to 72 (M = 29.46, SD = 10.74). All participants completed a 30–40-min online survey via Qualtrics. Regression and moderation analyses were performed to test the hypotheses. Identity shifting was positively associated with both anxiety and stereotype confirmation concerns. Stereotype confirmation concerns were also positively related to anxiety symptoms. Identity shifting partially moderated the association between stereotype confirmation concerns and anxiety symptoms, such that women who endorsed stereotype confirmation concerns in conjunction with low-to-average levels of identity shifting reported worse anxiety symptoms in one of two dimensions. Understanding the gendered racial experiences of African American women is important to recognize how the amalgamation of racism and sexism exact psychological consequences for this group. It is also of continued importance to further understand how women cope with and manage these racist and sexist contexts. Implications for psychology practice and research are proposed.