Vanessa Anyanso on Black Immigrant Mental Health at APA 2026
Alumna Vanessa Anyanso recently presented on the feature stage at the 2026 American Psychological Association (APA) convention. On August 8, Anyanso spoke as part of the “Beyond Monolithic Blackness: Advancing Research with Black Immigrants” division session. Her dissertation, “The Strong Black Woman and Mental Well-Being Across Black Ethnic Groups,” explored how the Strong Black Woman (SBW) schema may have both positive and negative effects on the mental health of Black women across different pan-ethic groups. Anyanso’s research offers insight into how the effects of a widely studied gender-based racial and cultural ideal can vary across ethnicities, particularly regarding Black immigrants.
Vanessa Anyanso, Alum in the Counseling Psychology area of the Department of Psychology at the University of Minnesota. Advised by Dr. Richard Lee and part of the Familee Laboratory.
