Workplace discrimination and older Black women's mental health: An examination of relational support‐strain processes

Drawing attention to the complex and multidimensional lives of older Black women, this study examines the extent to which workplace discrimination influences their mental health (i.e., depression and anxiety symptoms). Moreover, we assess whether various sources of social support mitigate or whether relational strains and work–family conflict exacerbate the influence of workplace discrimination on mental health. We draw data from the 2010 and 2012 waves of the Health and Retirement Study to address these queries. Results reveal the recalcitrant psychological effects of workplace discrimination on older Black women: social support from a variety of sources fails to counteract the pernicious influence of workplace discrimination on mental health, particularly anxiety symptoms. Neither relational strains with personal network members (e.g., spouse, children) nor work–family conflict exacerbate the discrimination‐mental health association for older Black women workers. However, relational strain in the context of one's marriage was associated with higher depression and anxiety symptoms. Theoretical and workplace policy implications are discussed.