Toward a Psychological Framework of <scp>B</scp> lack Matrescence: Centering Mother–Daughter Bonds

ABSTRACT Matrescence, the developmental transition to motherhood, has gained recognition as a critical life stage, yet existing frameworks remain largely universalist and insufficiently account for the racialized, intergenerational realities of Black women. Drawing on Black feminist thought and interdisciplinary perspectives on identity and resilience, this article introduces the construct of Black matrescence. The framework presented here is grounded in mother–daughter bonds, which are positioned as the intergenerational mechanism that shapes the transition to motherhood for Black women. Through both proximal processes (e.g., racial socialization, caregiving practices, coping strategies) and distal processes (e.g., narratives of trauma, resilience, and reproductive injustice), mother–daughter bonds mediate whether continuity or rupture occurs across generations. As depicted in our model, Black matrescence unfolds across four interrelated domains: individual, relational, cultural, and structural. These dynamics give rise to five key constructs: identity development, resilience, cultural continuity, healing, and flourishing. This framework advances family theory by conceptualizing motherhood as an intergenerational process situated within family systems, emphasizing the mother–daughter bond as a central mechanism of transmission and transformation. Implications are discussed for advancing research, clinical practice, and policy that promote maternal mental health and the well‐being of Black families.