African American women in the South’s rural areas are less likely to suffer from depression than those who live in Southern urban areas. That’s according to a new studyfrom the University of Michigan. The study uses data from the National Survey of American Life to examine how poverty and low education affect mental illness in black and white women living in the rural South.
About 4 percent of rural African American women say they’ve experienced depression in their lives. Numbers for urban and suburban counterparts are more than double. Among Southern white women, more than 20 percent say they’ve experienced depression.
The authors say the disparity in respondents could be due to differing levels of social support networks for white and black women. They also note strong family ties, high levels of spirituality, and a sense of solidarity with other women of color may contribute to lower rates of depression. The study authors say more research is needed to better understand rural mental health needs and to help formulate better intervention strategies.