Measuring hope and joy among Black Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic

Several reports highlight health disparities among Black Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic, though studies assessing positive psychological experiences for this group are nascent. I analyzed responses from a probability-based sample of (n = 981) Black adults to redress this gap. Participants completed surveys in 2022 and were recruited from the AmeriSpeak panel via the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago. I used latent variable modeling techniques to measure direct associations while probing for measurement error. Study findings indicate that fear of COVID-19 was related to significantly less hope and joy. Loneliness during COVID-19 was also related to less joy. Presence of meaning in life was the strongest contributor to joy, while prayer was most strongly associated with hope. Positive psychological insights should in turn be recognized as public health priorities when working to promote well-being, hope, and joy for Black Americans, and members of other underserved groups, during this global crisis.