The Black Mother‐Daughter Developmental Model: A Life Course Framework for Understanding Matrescence, Identity, and Attachment in Black Family Systems

This study introduces the Black Mother-Daughter Developmental Model (BMDDM), a life course framework that theorizes the evolving relational, psychological, and cultural dynamics of Black mother-daughter relationships across generations. Using a constructivist grounded theory approach, in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 18 Black women aged 18 to 65 and analyzed to examine patterns of attachment, identity development, rupture, and relational repair over time. Findings yielded a five-stage developmental model: (1) Black Matrescence and Prenatal Conditions, (2) Initial Attachment, (3) Separation and Detachment, (4) Negotiation and Reattachment, and (5) Matrescence Redux and Grandmatrescence. Across stages, participants described how gendered racial socialization, maternal trauma histories, and structural stressors shaped relational closeness, conflict, and reconciliation, particularly during key transitions such as adolescence, early adulthood, and the transition into motherhood. The model highlights Black matrescence as a distinct, racialized developmental process and identifies matrescence redux and grandmatrescence as critical periods for intergenerational reflection, boundary renegotiation, and relational healing. The BMDDM offers concrete implications for clinical practice by providing a culturally grounded framework for family therapy, perinatal mental health interventions, and mother-daughter dyadic work with Black families. Additionally, the model has implications for maternal health and family policy by underscoring the need for developmentally informed, anti-racist approaches that support intergenerational wellness and reduce disparities in engagement with mental health services.