Presented By: Research Center for Group Dynamics (RCGD)
RCGD Fall Seminar Series on the Science of Social Relationships: TeKisha Rice Wallace
Racism-Related Stress and Black American's Romantic Relationships
TeKisha Rice Wallace of Virginia Tech joins the RCGD Seminar Series on the Science of Social Relationships to present:
Racism-Related Stress and Black American's Romantic Relationships
Compared to White Americans, Black Americans have poorer relationship outcomes including being among the least likely to marry, having poorer quality relationships, and being the least likely to stay married. These racial inequities in relationship outcomes have been attributed, in part, to racism which “defines, structures, reinforces, and constrains romantic relationships” (Landor & McNeil Smith, 2023, p. 7). The Integrative Model for the Study of Stress in Black Families (Murry et al., 2018) frames racism and the inequities that it produces as stressors for Black family relationships. Importantly, romantic relationships can be a source of strength and resilience for Black Americans as they navigate shared experiences of racism-related stress, including persistent discrepancies in access to resources that undergird racial inequities, together. Black families’ existence and historical persistence in the face of racism suggests that individuals have consciously and unconsciously adapted behaviors and cognitions that can mitigate the adverse effects of racism. Importantly, racism and racism-related stress is multidimensional its effects can be complicated by other intersecting oppressions (e.g., cis-sexism, heterosexism, classism).
In this talk, Dr. TeKisha Rice Wallace will present published and ongoing work form her research on associations between racism-related stress, individual wellbeing, and relationship functioning among partnered Black Americans. In addition, the talk will discuss how a macro-contextual stressor such as racism-related stress can be experienced as a relational stressor. The talk will conclude by reviewing the implications, limitations, and future directions for this field of research.
Dr. TeKisha Rice Wallace (she/her) is an Assistant Professor of Human Development and Family Science at Virginia Tech where she directs the Relationship Experiences: Strengths and Strains (REST) Lab. Using quantitative and qualitative methods, her research examines the complex associations between social stressors, individual wellbeing, and relationship dynamics. Her research is driven by the belief that all people deserve to live long lives full of joy and authentic relationships that minimize the challenges of navigating inevitably hard times. Dr. Rice Wallace’s research has been recognized by the International Association for Relationship Research.
About the series:
Humans are social animals and from the earliest days of life, are dependent on the quality of social relationships with significant others: family, kin, friends, and a growing social network of online acquaintances. But, how do we conduct research and come to understand the social processes transpiring in these significant social connections with others? What are the consequences for individual development and mental health outcomes of having close intimate relationships in one’s life? There is also a darker side to some relationships in the form of violence, aggression, and conflict. How do we study these processes? Social media and artificial intelligence have opened up new ways of thinking about “what is a social relationship?” and how many of these “friends” can one truly have.
The speakers for this series will focus on different types of social relationships, spanning family and parent-child relationships, friendships, peer networks, romantic relationships, attachment relationships, and the use of online media to maintain social connections. Although several speakers are senior scholars with extensive research backgrounds in the field, many are junior scholars who are traversing new paths into the science of social relationships. Please join us Mondays to learn more about the exciting field of social relationships!
These events are held Mondays from 3:30 to 5.
In person: ISR Thompson 1430, unless otherwise specified.
Organized by Brenda Volling and Richard Gonzalez.
As permissions allow, seminars are later posted to our YouTube playlist.
Racism-Related Stress and Black American's Romantic Relationships
Compared to White Americans, Black Americans have poorer relationship outcomes including being among the least likely to marry, having poorer quality relationships, and being the least likely to stay married. These racial inequities in relationship outcomes have been attributed, in part, to racism which “defines, structures, reinforces, and constrains romantic relationships” (Landor & McNeil Smith, 2023, p. 7). The Integrative Model for the Study of Stress in Black Families (Murry et al., 2018) frames racism and the inequities that it produces as stressors for Black family relationships. Importantly, romantic relationships can be a source of strength and resilience for Black Americans as they navigate shared experiences of racism-related stress, including persistent discrepancies in access to resources that undergird racial inequities, together. Black families’ existence and historical persistence in the face of racism suggests that individuals have consciously and unconsciously adapted behaviors and cognitions that can mitigate the adverse effects of racism. Importantly, racism and racism-related stress is multidimensional its effects can be complicated by other intersecting oppressions (e.g., cis-sexism, heterosexism, classism).
In this talk, Dr. TeKisha Rice Wallace will present published and ongoing work form her research on associations between racism-related stress, individual wellbeing, and relationship functioning among partnered Black Americans. In addition, the talk will discuss how a macro-contextual stressor such as racism-related stress can be experienced as a relational stressor. The talk will conclude by reviewing the implications, limitations, and future directions for this field of research.
Dr. TeKisha Rice Wallace (she/her) is an Assistant Professor of Human Development and Family Science at Virginia Tech where she directs the Relationship Experiences: Strengths and Strains (REST) Lab. Using quantitative and qualitative methods, her research examines the complex associations between social stressors, individual wellbeing, and relationship dynamics. Her research is driven by the belief that all people deserve to live long lives full of joy and authentic relationships that minimize the challenges of navigating inevitably hard times. Dr. Rice Wallace’s research has been recognized by the International Association for Relationship Research.
About the series:
Humans are social animals and from the earliest days of life, are dependent on the quality of social relationships with significant others: family, kin, friends, and a growing social network of online acquaintances. But, how do we conduct research and come to understand the social processes transpiring in these significant social connections with others? What are the consequences for individual development and mental health outcomes of having close intimate relationships in one’s life? There is also a darker side to some relationships in the form of violence, aggression, and conflict. How do we study these processes? Social media and artificial intelligence have opened up new ways of thinking about “what is a social relationship?” and how many of these “friends” can one truly have.
The speakers for this series will focus on different types of social relationships, spanning family and parent-child relationships, friendships, peer networks, romantic relationships, attachment relationships, and the use of online media to maintain social connections. Although several speakers are senior scholars with extensive research backgrounds in the field, many are junior scholars who are traversing new paths into the science of social relationships. Please join us Mondays to learn more about the exciting field of social relationships!
These events are held Mondays from 3:30 to 5.
In person: ISR Thompson 1430, unless otherwise specified.
Organized by Brenda Volling and Richard Gonzalez.
As permissions allow, seminars are later posted to our YouTube playlist.
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