Compared to their White and Latina peers, Black girls’ emotional well-being may be significantly impacted by how satisfied they are with their hair, according a new study led by Adenique Lisse, a graduate student in the department of psychological sciences at the University of Connecticut.
Lisse surveyed a large sample of Black, White, and Latina girls in 9th, 10th, and 11th grade about how they felt about various aspects of their appearance, including their hair, overall body, weight, face, lower torso, mid torso, and upper torso. The participants were also asked about their experiences with discrimination and depressive symptoms.
Hair dissatisfaction was the only area of physical appearance that showed any significant differences among racial subgroups. Black girls were more likely to experience hair-related discrimination and hair dissatisfaction than their White and Latina peers. Those who did have negative experiences with their hair had an increased likelihood of depression.
Lisse believes her findings provide evidence of the importance of including hair in future appearance-related psychological research among adolescents. She also calls for the incorporation of hair in interventions aimed at promoting body positivity.
Lisse received her bachelor’s degree in human development and family studies and psychology from Pennsylvania State University and her master’s degree in psychology from St. John’s University in New York. She is set to graduate from the University of Connecticut with her Ph.D. in clinical psychology in 2028.
