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RELATIONSHIPS AMONG BLACK WOMEN’S WELLNESS, GENDERED-RACIAL IDENTITY, AND MENTAL HEALTH SYMPTOMS

Dykema, Stephanie A, Dykema
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron149677485274691

Abstract Details

2017, Doctor of Philosophy, University of Akron, Counseling Psychology.
Black women experience several unique influences on their wellness and mental health symptoms, including gendered-racism, religion/spirituality, cultural beliefs, controlling images/stereotypes, and gendered-racial identity. Counseling psychologists are called to recognize these individual and sociocultural influences on clients, viewing clients holistically and within their cultural context. This study explored how psychological well-being and optimal beliefs related to Black women’s gendered-racial identity and mental health symptoms. This study also assessed the factor structure of Ryff’s Scales of Psychological Well-being measure for Black women and identified a suitable two-factor structure for this sample. Across qualitative and quantitative results, optimal beliefs contributed uniquely to Black women’s definition of wellness. Liberation/empowerment, an optimal worldview, trusting relationships, and confidence to manage future challenges were related to fewer mental health symptoms in this sample. Study results also clarified that Black women who have high private regard and whose gendered-racial identity is central to their self-concept endorse trusting relationships and optimal beliefs as central components of their wellness. These results suggest counseling psychologists must move beyond multicultural knowledge to engage in social justice action that creates liberation for Black women and challenges the suboptimal system currently in place in dominant society. Taking such action and enacting social justice is necessary to decrease the mental health disparities experienced by Black women and to be an ally in their empowerment.
Ingrid Weigold, Ph.D. (Advisor)
Rebecca Erickson, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Kathryn Feltey, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Dawn Johnson, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
John Queener, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Suzette Speight, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
234 p.
African Americans; Counseling Psychology; Gender; Psychology
Black women; African American women; Wellness; Ryff Psychological Well-being; Optimal Theory; Sellers Racial Identity; Multidimensional Model of Racial Identity; Liberation; Empowerment; Counseling Psychology; Counseling; Therapy; Gendered-Racial Identity

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Dykema, Dykema, S. A. (2017). RELATIONSHIPS AMONG BLACK WOMEN’S WELLNESS, GENDERED-RACIAL IDENTITY, AND MENTAL HEALTH SYMPTOMS [Doctoral dissertation, University of Akron]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron149677485274691

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Dykema, Dykema, Stephanie. RELATIONSHIPS AMONG BLACK WOMEN’S WELLNESS, GENDERED-RACIAL IDENTITY, AND MENTAL HEALTH SYMPTOMS. 2017. University of Akron, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron149677485274691.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Dykema, Dykema, Stephanie. "RELATIONSHIPS AMONG BLACK WOMEN’S WELLNESS, GENDERED-RACIAL IDENTITY, AND MENTAL HEALTH SYMPTOMS." Doctoral dissertation, University of Akron, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron149677485274691

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by University of Akron and OhioLINK.