Abstract
The beliefs and experiences of depression among HIV/AIDS positive African-American women were explored in this study. Specifically, the roles that racism, sexism, and expectations of being a "Strong Black Woman" (SBW) may play in depressive symptoms were examined. Using the Phenomenological approach, 17 women participated in focus groups to discuss their "lived experiences". The results indicate that participants described emotional/physical symptoms of depression as shutting down emotionally, being constantly angry, becoming quiet, crying and overeating. Also, depression was described as something of short duration (one or two days), something they had to "snap out of", ignore, avoid, or something that they could not express to others, especially their family and friends. The common experiences reported for how these women coped with depression were: masking their pain (i.e., putting on their "game face"), praying and looking to God, avoidance, using drugs and alcohol, and staying busy. All of the participants defined themselves as a SBW, and described a SBW as someone who is "everything to everybody". The study provided useful insights into the language used to describe depressive symptoms, specific ways of coping with depression and behaviors associated with being a SBW that enable African-American women to avoid asking for help (disconnection from needs) and not express their emotional pain (disconnection from feelings). The application of the findings in this study is beneficial to this population, clinical practice, the mental health community as a whole, and society.