Date of Award
Fall 2025
Document Type
Open Access Thesis
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Guillermo Wippold
Abstract
Black women in the United States (U.S.) have life expectancy of 75 years of age, which is 10.6 years less than Asian women, 6.1 years less than Hispanic women, and 4.5 years less than White women (Arias et al., 2023). Additionally, across measures of health-related quality of life (HRQoL), a multidimensional indicator of health, Black women report experiencing among the lowest HRQoL in the U.S. (Pereira et al., 2011). Grounded in Social Identity Complexity Theory (Roccas & Brewer, 2002), Intersectionality Theory (Crenshaw, 1989), and Social Identity Theory (Tajfel, 1974), the current study sought to examine the impact of identity structure on HRQoL among Black women, as well as the moderating role of belonging within this group. A sample of 178 Black women completed an online survey regarding identity structure, HRQoL, and feelings of belongingness. Findings suggested a moderating relationship between identity integration and belongingness for both physical and psychological HRQoL, as well as belonging as a predictor of both physical and psychological HRQoL. For participants with low levels of belongingness, higher levels of integration demonstrated a negative relationship with both subsets of HRQoL. The opposite was true for participants with high levels of belongingness—higher level of integration was associated with higher physical and psychological HRQoL. These results counter previous research linking identity integration with increased wellbeing, suggesting that belongingness may be a key protective factor for Black women in this relationship. Given the low life expectancy and HRQoL of Black women, the present study aimed to inform culturally congruent strategies to promote this indicator of health among these women.
Rights
© 2025, Hanna Irene Smyles
Recommended Citation
Smyles, H. I.(2025). Examining the Roles of Identity Complexity and Belonging on Quality of Life Among Black Women. (Master's thesis). Retrieved from https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/etd/8646