Relationship between loneliness and symptoms of anxiety and depression in African American men and women: Evidence for gender as a moderator

- Examined role of gender in loneliness and negative affect symptoms in African Americans.
- For African American women loneliness was strongly associated with negative affect symptoms.
- Gender differences moderated the relationship between loneliness and negative affect symptoms.
- Lonely African American women reported highest levels of negative affect symptoms.

We examined for gender differences in loneliness and negative affective conditions, namely, symptoms of anxiety and depression, in 168 African American college students. Gender differences were examined as a predictor of negative affective conditions and as a moderator of the relationship between loneliness and negative affective conditions. Although no significant differences were found in levels of loneliness and negative affective conditions between African American men and women, results of regression analyses indicated that gender differences significantly predicted anxious and depressive symptoms. Moreover, a significant Gender × Loneliness interaction effect was found in predicting both anxious and depressive symptoms. Specifically, higher levels of anxious and depressive symptoms were found among lonely African American women, compared to men. These findings suggest that the negative psychological effects of loneliness may be particularly more damaging for African American women than men. Understanding the unique challenges of African American women, compared to men, as a double minority is discussed.