What Is the Power of Identity? Examining the Moderating Role of Racial-Identity Latent Profiles on the Relationship Between Race-Related Stress and Trauma Symptoms Among Black American Women

In the current study, we investigated the emergence of racial-identity latent profiles and the potential for racial-identity profiles to moderate the relationship between race-related stress and trauma symptoms in nontreatment-seeking, trauma-exposed, Black American women (N = 222). Racial-identity profiles emerged from latent profile analyses and supported a three-class solution: undifferentiated, detached, and nationalist. Analysis of variance revealed that the nationalist profile group experienced significantly higher race-related stress compared with the detached and undifferentiated profiles. Moderation analyses revealed racial-identity profile type predicted both total posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and each PTSD symptom cluster; specifically, the nationalist profile type buffered the effects of race-related stress on PTSD symptoms. This study illustrates how stress from racial discrimination influences PTSD symptoms and the ways racial identity may mitigate this relationship, which has the capacity to inform the adaptation of PTSD treatments for minoritized groups.