Examining the Relationship Between Racial Identity and Positive Health Behaviors Among African American Emerging Adults

Examining the Relationship Between Racial Identity and Positive Health Behaviors Among African American Emerging Adults
Author: Jamilia Raki Sly
Publisher:
Total Pages: 96
Release: 2010
Genre: Electronic dissertations
ISBN:
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Racial identity is an important factor in predicting health behaviors, especially among African Americans. The history of African Americans in the United States makes racial identity an important concept to study. Racial identity can be described as the degree to which a person feels connected to or shares commonalities with an ethnic racial group (Helms, 1990). African Americans fare much worse than other racial and ethnic minorities in the United States in many areas of health. The purpose of this project was to investigate the relationship between racial identity and health behaviors of African American adults aged 18-25 years old. Two hundred African American emerging adults (18-28 years old) (50% female) were recruited from a university campus and community arts festival to participate in the study. Results yielded three distinct identity profiles (multicultural, integrationist and marginalized). Race was a defining feature of identity for the integrationist cluster. The multicultural profile embraced blending with mainstream culture and other minority groups and the marginalized profile did not identify with any group or ideology. The three profiles were assessed for differences in health behaviors (i.e. substance use, mental health, exercise, number of sexual partners). The marginalized profile displayed lower positive affect, more cigarette smoking and more sexual partners in the past year than the other two profiles. Racial identity may be one way of assessing how participants view the world. The information about why they identify with a certain racial identity profile might help researchers tailor preventive interventions to reducing health disparities. Our findings, however, have shown that racial identity alone is not sufficient in explaining how or why people choose to engage in unhealthy behaviors.

Communities in Action

Communities in Action
Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 583
Release: 2017-04-27
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 0309452961
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In the United States, some populations suffer from far greater disparities in health than others. Those disparities are caused not only by fundamental differences in health status across segments of the population, but also because of inequities in factors that impact health status, so-called determinants of health. Only part of an individual's health status depends on his or her behavior and choice; community-wide problems like poverty, unemployment, poor education, inadequate housing, poor public transportation, interpersonal violence, and decaying neighborhoods also contribute to health inequities, as well as the historic and ongoing interplay of structures, policies, and norms that shape lives. When these factors are not optimal in a community, it does not mean they are intractable: such inequities can be mitigated by social policies that can shape health in powerful ways. Communities in Action: Pathways to Health Equity seeks to delineate the causes of and the solutions to health inequities in the United States. This report focuses on what communities can do to promote health equity, what actions are needed by the many and varied stakeholders that are part of communities or support them, as well as the root causes and structural barriers that need to be overcome.

African American Behavior in the Social Environment

African American Behavior in the Social Environment
Author: J. Camille Hall
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 487
Release: 2013-10-18
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 1317994221
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An essential text to help to understand human behavior and the processes that guide human adaptation Social workers and therapists need to assess the full range of aspects of their client problems such as socioeconomic status, academic achievement, parental incarceration, psychopathology, and other risks. African American Behavior in the Social Environment: New Perspectives explores the latest empirical and theoretical findings of human behavior and resiliency in African American individuals, families, and communities. Leading scholars provide unique insights into African American mental health, gender relations, family interactions and dynamics, inequality, poverty, the balance between work and family, and nontraditional families. This important text discusses in detail the importance of understanding the processes that guide human adaptation and understanding the dynamics of how particular ethnic groups, cultures, and people use resources to adapt to certain circumstances that can be useful in assessment and treatment. African American Behavior in the Social Environment: New Perspectives presents the analysis and research of several individuals in order to provide an understanding of how the concept of protective factors, racial identity, and racial socialization has been approached, the direction their insights have taken them, and the results of exploring the dynamics of African American behavior in relationship to environments. Research discussed in African American Behavior in the Social Environment: New Perspectives include: socioeconomic status health disparity the impact of having incarcerated parents academic achievement gap kinship ties leadership development race identity and socialization suicide among African American adolescents Black churches impact in HIV/AIDS prevention culturally relevant mental health services gender and sexuality issues policy and practice and much more! African American Behavior in the Social Environment: New Perspectives is an invaluable resource for counselors, marriage and family therapists, educators, and students in African American studies.

African American Psychology

African American Psychology
Author: Stacie Craft DeFreitas, PhD
Publisher: Springer Publishing Company
Total Pages: 362
Release: 2019-11-06
Genre: Psychology
ISBN: 0826150063
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This innovative text is the first to examine the contemporary psychological experience of African Americans through the lens of a positive, strengths-based model. It combats the deficit perspective that has permeated the psychological literature about African Americans by focusing on the strengths that have facilitated their growth and resilience—while also considering existing challenges and struggles. The author examines in depth the major areas of psychological research across family, peer, and romantic relationships, education, work, ethnic-racial socialization and identity, prosocial behavior and civic engagement, and the mental and physical health of African Americans today. With a focus on real life applications, the text includes pedagogical elements introducing topics in Current Events, Interventions in Practice, Individual Issues, African Cultural Values, and Media and Technology. Additional features include learning objectives in each chapter, discussion questions, a closing summary, an extensive trove of additional resources, and PowerPoints and a sample syllabus for instructors. Print version of book includes free, searchable, digital access to the entire contents. Key Features: Serves as the first text to examine African American psychology from a strengths-based perspective Grounded in a lifespan perspective Focuses on ethnic-racial socialization and ethnic-racial identity Addresses mental and physical health Demonstrates how communities have used strength-based techniques to achieve positive outcomes Integrate values common to Western Africa Includes learning objectives, discussion questions, closing summary, and boldfaced key terms Provides PowerPoints and a sample syllabus

Racial Identity in Context

Racial Identity in Context
Author: Kenneth Bancroft Clark
Publisher: Amer Psychological Assn
Total Pages: 273
Release: 2004-01-01
Genre: Psychology
ISBN: 9781591471226
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"This book presents a series of insightful discussions centered around the concept of identity as the key to understanding how racial minorities define reality, experience changes in racial consciousness, and perceive themselves and the world around them. This volume brings together many influential thinkers, writers, scholars, and researchers who tell a story that is deeply embedded in American society and still unfolding. The chapters are concise, well written, and presented in a sequence that captures the power and vision of Clark's testimony, rationale, methodology, and subsequent discoveries, which have altered the landscape of psychology. This volume is a must read for laypeople, students and professionals from a range of disciplines including psychology, social work, law, theology, ethics, sociology, and American history who will be impressed by the power and scope of the deeply probing analyses. This volume examines the continuing reality of racism but takes us beyond conceptions of "damage" to illuminate the strengths and resilience of African American culture. In a fitting tribute to Kenneth B. Clark, the contributors treat the cultural and historical context of racial identity as essential for a psychological analysis"--Jacket. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2005 APA, all rights reserved)

Examining the Relationship Between Racial Identity Status and Race-related Stress in African Americans

Examining the Relationship Between Racial Identity Status and Race-related Stress in African Americans
Author: Morgan Hurst
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2012
Genre:
ISBN:
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Race-related stress has been found to impact the mental health of African Americans in literature. Three manuscripts were developed for this dissertation. The first is a critical literature review identifying the multiple pathways by which racism can affect mental health, and the current research addressing this problem is presented. Second, a quantitative study looking at what type of coping mechanisms African Americans use when dealing with race-related stress and how racial identity statuses impact these coping mechanisms?; The third manuscript addresses the research question, among the identified coping mechanisms, is there a relationship with psychological distress? The first manuscript is a critical literature review which discusses racism, race-related stress, and coping resources. The aim of the paper is to identify the multiple pathways by which racism can affect mental health and the current research addressing this problem. Initially, views of racism and race-related stress will be identified; theories for use of stress will be examined, and how racial identity status influences the perception of racism. In addition, individual strategies for coping with racism will be discussed, as well as major approaches to coping that have received sufficient research with regard to their effectiveness for mental and physical outcomes. The purpose of the first quantitative study was to examine the relationships among race-related stress, racial identity status, and coping resources in African Americans in a sample of 294 African American adults. Results indicated that avoidance coping and seeking social support predicted higher levels of race-related stress. Problem solving coping did not predict race-related stress. In addition, racial identity status (pre-encounter and immersion-emersion) predicted avoidance coping where racial identity status (internalization) predicted more problem solving coping behavior. The findings emphasize the need to recognize how racial identity status influence styles of coping in African Americans. Implications for mental health providers are discussed. The purpose of the second study was to examine the relationships between race-related stress, coping resources, and mental health in African Americans in a sample of 294 African American adults. Results indicated they were a predictor of psychological distress and well-being in African Americans. Specifically, the avoidance coping mechanism led to participants in the study experiencing more psychological distress when using this coping resource. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the results, which confirmed our hypothesis that mal-adaptive coping strategies predicted psychological distress. The findings emphasize the need to recognize how coping styles influence mental health in African Americans. Implications for mental health providers are discussed.

Racial Identity, Perceived Discrimination and Health Behaviors Among Black Primary Care Patients who Use Substances

Racial Identity, Perceived Discrimination and Health Behaviors Among Black Primary Care Patients who Use Substances
Author: Leah E. Squires
Publisher:
Total Pages: 186
Release: 2013
Genre:
ISBN:
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Abstract: Blacks who use substances are at heightened risk for health problems. Although negative health outcomes are influenced by several factors related to drug use, these individuals also experience multiple sources of discrimination that may contribute to poor health. Previous work has identified associations between indices of perceived discrimination and health. However, there has been no research examining the relative influence of multiple sources of perceived discrimination on health risk behaviors of Blacks who use substances. The primary aim of this study was to examine how multiple types of discrimination and racial identity centrality contribute to the health risk behaviors of Blacks who use substances.A sample of 279 (203 Black) primary care patients who endorsed substance use completed measures of discrimination, racial identity and health risk behaviors. Outcomes of interest were hazardous drinking, smoking, unprotected sex and low physical activity. Two models were tested by logistic regression: (1) a direct effects model, which proposes unique predictive effects of racial identity centrality and discrimination indices on health risk behaviors, and (2) a buffering model, which proposes racial identity centrality moderates the association between perceived discrimination and health risk behavior.Analyses provided limited support for either model. Single variable effects were not observed. Two interactions were significant. Among those experiencing racial discrimination in health care settings, high centrality was protective against low physical activity. In contrast, among those reporting everyday discrimination, high centrality increased the likelihood of unprotected sex.The current study provided limited support for the hypothesis that perceived discrimination contributes to health risk behaviors among Blacks who use substances. Limited variability in discrimination ratings and health risk outcomes may have obscured the ability to detect main effects of discrimination. Given the number of other factors that contribute to health risk behaviors in this population, the perceived discrimination variables assessed may not have a significant impact on health risk behaviors. Examining these models among Black patients who are not substance users may yield different results. Future work on the influence of discrimination on health may benefit from exploring additional factors, such as stress, in multivariable models.

Critical Perspectives on Racial and Ethnic Differences in Health in Late Life

Critical Perspectives on Racial and Ethnic Differences in Health in Late Life
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 753
Release: 2004-10-16
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 0309092116
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In their later years, Americans of different racial and ethnic backgrounds are not in equally good-or equally poor-health. There is wide variation, but on average older Whites are healthier than older Blacks and tend to outlive them. But Whites tend to be in poorer health than Hispanics and Asian Americans. This volume documents the differentials and considers possible explanations. Selection processes play a role: selective migration, for instance, or selective survival to advanced ages. Health differentials originate early in life, possibly even before birth, and are affected by events and experiences throughout the life course. Differences in socioeconomic status, risk behavior, social relations, and health care all play a role. Separate chapters consider the contribution of such factors and the biopsychosocial mechanisms that link them to health. This volume provides the empirical evidence for the research agenda provided in the separate report of the Panel on Race, Ethnicity, and Health in Later Life.

Human Behavior in the Social Environment from an African-American Perspective

Human Behavior in the Social Environment from an African-American Perspective
Author: Letha A See
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 832
Release: 2013-02-01
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 1136437037
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Human Behavior in the Social Environment from an African-American Perspective, Second Edition is an updating of the classic text that presents leading black scholars discussing complex human behavior problems faced by African-Americans in today’s society. This new edition provides fresh theories and the latest practical interventions not in the first edition that show, for example, how to enhance a client’s coping strategies and resilience by focusing on their strengths rather than their weaknesses. This edition includes a new foreword by former Surgeon General, Dr. Joycelyn Elders. Human Behavior in the Social Environment from an African-American Perspective, Second Edition acquaints practitioners with the Black experience, and provides the latest innovative methods of working with this diverse population. This edition also offers new insights on evaluating practice initiatives. Experts and scholars explore and interpret individual and group behaviors, the strength and resilience of the black family, the stresses and problems affecting children, the significant problem of the affects of colorism, the self-esteem and identity issues of biracial children, violence in the criminal justice system, the HIV/AIDS pandemic, the stress and behaviors resulting from belonging to the armed services, and other behavior stemming from progression through the life cycle. Chapters include charts and tables of data, extensive references, and study questions for deeper study for students. Topics in Human Behavior in the Social Environment from an African-American Perspective, Second Edition include: the importance of the consideration of the black experience in analyzing black behavior behavior as a response to a hostile social system the black church’s role in leading African-Americans resiliency perspective as a positive force the use of strength behaviors for socialization and survival strategies to strengthen roles of fathers in African-American families military culture as a microcosm of the wider society the psychological effects of skin color on self-esteem the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and its effects refreshing social work practice to better meet the needs of African-American girls examination of a study on the help-seeking behaviors of young African-American males empirically based creative intervention strategies to alleviate black-on-black crime analysis of street gang behaviors with a program to address it influences of hip hop culture strategies to lessen substance abuse in children practices that help assist administrators and social workers to lessen school violence Human Behavior in the Social Environment from an African-American Perspective, Second Edition is a supplementary text that is valuable for undergraduate and graduate students, human service practitioners, mental health and medical counselors, policymakers, school officials, and criminal justice personnel.

Adolescent Boys

Adolescent Boys
Author: Niobe Way
Publisher: NYU Press
Total Pages: 396
Release: 2004
Genre: Family & Relationships
ISBN: 0814793843
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A look at diverse boys across American cultures.