February is Black History Month, which is an opportunity to share some quick insights into Black mental health professionals who have revolutionized the field by focusing on racial trauma, social justice, and culturally relevant care. Notable figures include Mamie Phipps Clark (who investigated the psychological effects of segregation on children) and her husband Kenneth Clark (first Black APA president) and Joseph L. White (“Godfather of Black Psychology”) although there are many others who have pioneered techniques to address systemic racism’s impact on mental well-being. We encourage readers to research these individuals and many others who have made remarkable contributions to the field.
As you have probably recognized, in addition to celebrating the achievements, culture, and contributions of African Americans to U.S. history and society, numerous industries take the opportunity to shine a spotlight on the unique issues faced by the population. The mental health community is among those who make a concerted effort to spread awareness. And while there is no shortage of content being published on mental health concerns that Black Americans generally have higher rates of when compared against other groups (driven by systemic inequality, racial trauma, and limited access to care) there is one area that deserves deeper exploration – behavioral addictions relating to web-enabled activities.
Not only are technology addictions (or digital dependencies) threatening on their own, they each cooccur with mental health issues that Black Americans (namely young adults) exhibit other vulnerabilities to, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and suicidality. As the nation’s leading research and virtual treatment provider for digital dependencies we want the nation to become better educated on these demographic vulnerabilities. After all, awareness is the cornerstone of healthier use of technology. Further, realization of addictive properties relating to these activities can help reduce problem consumption by shifting behavior from automatic, impulsive reactions to conscious choices, allowing individuals and households to recognize and manage triggers. Below is a brief overview, with links to research to learn more.
Brief Overview of Vulnerabilities to Developing Behavioral Addictions Related to Technology Among Black Americans
Online Gambling
The National Library of Medicine confirms that the Black population reports a significantly higher prevalence of gambling behavior, a higher prevalence of gambling at an earlier age, and higher prevalence of related suicide attempts. Further research (here) indicates that Black/African Americans are more likely to be high-risk problem gamblers at a rate of 15.9% when compared against other ethnicities in the United States. Online sports betting has become particularly problematic, with notable higher engagement rates among the young adult Black community. A recent NCAA survey (view here) found that 68% of Black respondents engage in sports betting, compared to 63% of Hispanic respondents, 55% of Asian respondents and 54% of white respondents. The report also states that African Americans also place larger wagers and are more influenced by advertising to participate in online sports betting.
Video Gaming
Research compiled by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) indicates that Black adolescents and young adults may face a higher risk of unhealthy video game use compared to their White peers, with further studies showing higher addiction rates. Researchers state that factors contributing to this disparity include, but are not limited to, higher consumption rates, social stress, and a reliance on gaming as a coping mechanism for mental health issues that are disproportionately higher in the Black community. View more on this research right here.
Consumption of Online Pornography
Research from the NIH (view here) suggests that Black Americans, particularly males, are more likely to consume online pornography and increase their viewership at higher rates (2.5 times greater) than White Americans. Additional studies find that exposure to sexually explicit material (SEM) is more frequent among Black adolescents compared to Whites with factors such as lower socioeconomic statuses and growing up in less-educated households coming into play. Further adding to mental and behavioral health compromise, is the portrayal of Black performers in online pornography. Impressionable Black youth and young adult males are witnessing performers (at the bequest pornographic film producers) to use stereotyped speech patterns and mannerisms, have racialized names, and bear the brunt of racial insults on-camera, all of which are set against “ethnic” background music and settings.
Social Media
Various studies, including those published by the NIH (here) and Sage Journals (here) find that Black Americans, particularly adolescents and young women, show higher rates of problematic social media use. Adding a layer of complexity to the issue, is that high engagement behaviors (which can lead to problematic use) are often driven by using platforms to counter racial discrimination, improve self-esteem, find community connection, and navigate social isolation, which can be beneficial. So while social media usage poses risks of behavioral addiction and the consequences to come with it, it simultaneously serves as a tool for empowerment among Black women. This demographic has been traditionally overlooked in scholarly discourse, and thus further research is strongly recommended.
Online Shopping
Research confirms (view here) that younger Black American individuals and households exhibit a higher propensity for online shopping. High e-commerce engagement is reportedly driven by targeted (towards young Black adults) social media marketing, higher than average rates of smartphone usage, and in a number of cases – a desire to project status to counteract historical systemic inequities. The latter is particularly observed in those who experience early life adversity due to structural and systemic issues.
Online Streaming
Recent studies find that Black Americans generally lead the nation in media consumption, but at the same time are at a higher risk for unhealthy online streaming behavior (i.e. unhealthy binge watching) with 37% reporting near-constant usage. Data (here) shows Black consumers are more likely to have more than three streaming services per household. Further, Black youth have higher rates of problematic screen use relating to streaming numerous hours of online content per week. There is an added component of concern for the adult Black population (although streaming habits are formed in youth) when factoring in a study from the Journal of the American Heart Association. The study indicates that African Americans who stream more than four hours of television every day faced a 50% greater risk of heart disease and premature death compared to those who watched less than two hours.
Again, the intent of this feature is to increase awareness about potential vulnerabilities so that individuals and households can be more mindful of their involvement with technology. It’s a cursory look that encourages further research and discussion in the future.
If you recognize that you or a loved one may struggle with a tech-addiction and/or cooccurring issues, please reach out via your preferred form of contact below.
