A Qualitative Study of the Black Mother-Daughter Relationship

Abstract

The mother-daughter bond is a complex, diverse, lifelong, intimate connection that significantly affects development. While studies of intergenerational relations during old age have increased, as have those examining the mother-daughter relationship during adolescence, particularly those among Black and Latina pairs, only a few have examined adult mother-daughter relationships among African Americans. Only a few studies have examined the influence Black mothers have on their daughters’ development. Using Black feminist thought as a theoret alical model, this article reports findings from a qualitative study that explored Black adult daughters’ perceptions of the impact their mothers had on the development of their self-worth/self-esteem, resilience, and coping strategies. Seventeen Black mothers and daughters described the lessons they learned and the forms in which these lessons were conveyed from their mothers. Implications of the findings for future research are drawn.