Socioeconomic Circumstances and the Effect on Black Men’s Mental Health

Abstract

Mental health research increasingly recognizes the role of systemic inequality and socioeconomic instability in shaping well-being, yet Black men in the United States remain underexplored in this discourse. This thesis investigates how contemporary socioeconomic circumstances affect mental health outcomes among Black men, examining the intersecting influences of structural racism, wealth disparities, cultural stigma, and masculinity norms. Drawing on intersectionality theory, the social determinants of health framework, and the theory of diminished returns, this study employs qualitative methods — specifically semi-structured interviews with fifteen participants across varied socioeconomic backgrounds — to center the lived experiences often obscured by quantitative approaches. Findings reveal how financial instability, cultural expectations of strength, and institutional barriers collectively produce psychological distress while simultaneously fostering strategies of resilience and coping. This research contributes to public health literature and offers culturally responsive policy and community-based recommendations aimed at addressing the structural roots of mental health inequity among Black men.