Everyday Conflict and Daily Stressors: Coping Responses of Black Women

The purpose of this study was to explore how Black women cope with the impact of daily stressors in their lives. To understand stress and coping among Black women, it was necessary to explore the interlocking effects of race, gender, and social class on these stressors and their effects on the women’s ability to cope with the consequences for their health and emotional and psychological well-being. An exploratory design with grounded theory methods was used to develop a midrange theory about stress and coping among Black women on the basis of the women’s experience with sociocultural factors, namely, race, gender, and social class. The implications for practice of the findings underscore the continuing significance of racism and sexism in the everyday lives of Black women.