Shaquori McCoy L&S Social Sciences
The Mental Health Impact of Childhood Adultification in Black Adults
My project asks how experiences of early responsibility in childhood shape mental health later in life among Black adults. Specifically, I examine adultification, when children take on caregiving, emotional, or household responsibilities earlier than expected. I also examine adultification bias, when Black children are perceived as older, less innocent, and less deserving of protection than their peers. While research has shown these experiences can affect Black youth, much less is known about how Black adults reflect on these experiences over time or how they may influence well-being in adulthood. Through this project, I explore how Black adults interpret the responsibilities they carried as children and whether these experiences relate to patterns of anxiety, depression, or risk-related behaviors. By focusing on both lived experiences and mental health outcomes, my research asks how early responsibility may continue shaping development long after childhood. This work may help strengthen culturally inclusive mental health research and lay the foundation for future work on how structural and social inequalities shape development across the life course.
Message To Sponsor
Thank you for the opportunity to enter the world of research and contribute to supporting my community through this work.I am especially grateful for the chance to develop as a researcher while exploring questions I hope will contribute to meaningful change. I am excited for the opportunity to grow alongside other scholars through this experience! I truly appreciate your support in helping me pursue work I am incredibly passionate about.