# Parenting Profiles Among Black Fathers: Implications for Black Adolescents’ Depression Symptomatology

> **NIH NIH F32** · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · 2024 · $73,408

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Ample evidence suggests that Black parents are the most salient figures in the lives of Black adolescents, with
the greatest potential to protect and prepare them from the adverse effects of racism through unique, culturally
specific parenting strategies.33, 45 Racism is increasingly becoming a public health concern which poses a risk
for an increase in depression symptoms among Black Americans during adolescence and with recent studies
indicating that Black fathers are salient and active participants in the parenting process.5, 25, 39 However, our
understanding of patterns of parenting strategies among Black fathers is methodological limitations in
longitudinal explorations and person-centered approaches to advance our understanding of the long-term
effects of exposure to racism on depression symptomatology. The overall goal of this NRSA proposal is to
provide a methodologically rigorous examination of the heterogeneity of Black fathers’ parenting strategies and
its protective capabilities on the long-term consequences of racism experiences on depression symptomatology
among Black adolescents by 1) investigating the longitudinal stability of paternal strategies subgroups, 2)
examining the concurrent and longitudinal associations with depression symptoms, and 3) exploring the
mediational and protection effects paternal strategies in the face of racism experiences among Black
adolescents. This goal aligns with NICHD’s priority of understanding the impact of adverse experiences during
childhood and adolescence on development and identifying periods where intervention could have optimal
effects. These aims will be addressed through secondary data analysis including self-identified Black
adolescents (i.e., ages 10 -19): (1) Fathers And Mothers In the Lives of Youth (FAMILY) and (2)
Representations of Fatherhood: Roles, Awareness, and Meaning (ReFRAME). The specific aims are to 1)
Identify heterogeneous profiles of cultural parenting strategies among Black fathers, 2) Test for the longitudinal
stability of heterogeneous profiles of cultural parenting strategies among Black Fathers, 3) To examine the
direct and indirect effects of Black fathers’ parenting strategies on the effects of Black adolescents’ racism
exposure and depression symptoms, and Exploratory Aim) To examine the attenuating effects of latent clusters
of Black fathers’ parenting strategies on the effects of racism exposure on depression symptoms. Anticipated
findings can inform child development research across adolescence, a critical developmental period, and one
of five key goals outlined in the current strategic plan of the NICHD. Moreover, the research and training
outlined in this NRSA F32 postdoctoral fellowship application will equip me with the skills and support needed
to pursue a successful career as an independent research scientist by providing me with knowledge of relevant
theoretical models of parenting strategies among Black fathers and familial experiences...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10902733
- **Project number:** 1F32HD115373-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
- **Principal Investigator:** Stephen M Gibson
- **Activity code:** F32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $73,408
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-08-01 → 2027-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10902733

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10902733, Parenting Profiles Among Black Fathers: Implications for Black Adolescents’ Depression Symptomatology (1F32HD115373-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10902733. Licensed CC0.

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