Beyond Strength: Black Women's Perceptions of Physical Activity and Mental Health Through Superwoman Schema and Black Feminist Theory.

Abstract

IntroductionBlack women experience disproportionate burdens of chronic disease and mental health challenges and are less likely to meet recommended levels of physical activity. However, existing research remains limited in centering Black women's lived experiences and perceptions related to health behaviors. This study examined Black women's perceptions of health behaviors through a culturally congruent lens guided by Superwoman Schema (SWS) and Black Feminist Theory (BFT).MethodsEighteen focus groups (N = 81) were conducted with Black women across Virginia between January 2024 and December 2024. Participants were grouped by generation and assigned to SWS- or BFT-guided discussion questions. Discussions were facilitated by Black women researchers and analyzed using Braun and Clarke's six-phase thematic analysis. Deductive codes informed by SWS and BFT were combined with inductive coding to generate themes.ResultsThemes emerged related to: Mental and Emotional Health, Health Infrastructure, Burden of Black Womanhood, Societal Imposition, and Divine Intervention. Participants described physical activity as a form of emotional regulation. Participants described key barriers and facilitators influencing engagement in physical activity and mental health care, including therapist concordance, hair politics, expectations of strength, and religious framing.ConclusionsUsing culturally congruent frameworks illuminates how intersecting racialized and gendered expectations shape Black women's health behaviors and engagement, underscoring the importance of centering lived experience in advancing health equity.