# Maternal Mentalizing as Protective Factor Against Racism-Related Trauma and Maternal Substance Use

> **NIH NIH R03** · DREXEL UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $75,750

## Abstract

Abstract
 Maternal substance use (SU) is a significant and growing public health problem. In 2020, over 26 million
U.S. women used illicit substances, and SU rates among women giving birth have nearly quadrupled in the last
decade. Despite these realties, mothers with substance use disorders (SUDs) remain an underserved and
understudied population. For Black mothers in the U.S., the lack of research on risk, protective factors, and
effective elements of treatment for maternal SU is even more pronounced. For example, while a growing body
of research demonstrates the negative effects of racism-related trauma on a wide-range of health outcomes,
no quantitative studies, and only a handful of qualitative studies have examined the contributions of racism-
related trauma to maternal SU outcomes in Black women. For Black U.S. mothers, their own experiences of
racism-related trauma, and the parenting stress they can experience in worrying about and processing their
children’s experiences with racism, likely significantly impact feelings of fear, helplessness, parenting
competence, and parenting stress which can all contribute to maternal SU risk. While racism-related trauma
likely contributes to Black mother’s SU risk, in part through amplifying parenting stress, the parenting role, and
particularly the quality of mother-child relationships, may also serve as a critical SU protective factor. One
factor that has been shown to bolster the quality of the parent-child relationship and improve maternal SU
outcomes is maternal mentalizing, defined as the capacity and tendency for mothers to observe and make
generally accurate inferences about thoughts, emotions and intentions of themselves and others, including
their child, and how they affect behavior. Recent maternal SU intervention studies show that improving
maternal mentalizing improved mother-child relationship quality, buffered against the effects of other/non-
racism related trauma on SU, and improved SUD recovery outcomes. Thus, mentalizing is likely an important
protective factor for maternal SU outcomes, but no studies have investigated if maternal mentalizing may serve
as a protective factor against the effects of racism-related trauma for Black mothers struggling with SUDs.
 The objective of the proposed study is to collect and analyze cross-sectional and longitudinal data on
experiences of racism-related trauma and maternal mentalizing in a unique sample of Black mothers with
SUDs who are seeking treatment at Drexel University College of Medicine’s Caring Together Program (>80%
of patients identify as Black/AA; 85% are mothers of dependent children). This research will contribute to
NIDA’s research priorities to: 1) better understand the real-world complexities and the impact of important
social factors on maternal SUDs; and 2) conduct research that will significantly impact the promotion of health
equality in SU research and practice. Accomplishing the study aims will provide important data on SU...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10888533
- **Project number:** 1R03DA058838-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** DREXEL UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Jessica Chou
- **Activity code:** R03 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $75,750
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-06-01 → 2026-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10888533

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10888533, Maternal Mentalizing as Protective Factor Against Racism-Related Trauma and Maternal Substance Use (1R03DA058838-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10888533. Licensed CC0.

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