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An Experimental Evaluation of a Black Encouragement and Empowerment Intervention for University Students

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Title: An Experimental Evaluation of a Black Encouragement and Empowerment Intervention for University Students
Language: English
Authors: Nelson O. O. Zounlomè (ORCID 0000-0002-6205-6101), Y. Joel Wong
Source: Journal of Diversity in Higher Education. 2026 19(1):98-108.
Availability: American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 11
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: College Students, African American Students, Positive Reinforcement, Student Empowerment, Intervention, Self Esteem, Self Efficacy, Psychological Patterns, Gender Differences, Racial Factors, Self Concept, Gender Identity, Resilience (Psychology), Anxiety, Depression (Psychology), Well Being
Assessment and Survey Identifiers: Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales
DOI: 10.1037/dhe0000635
ISSN: 1938-8926
1938-8934
Abstract: Given the challenges that Black university students face, this study examined the impact of a Black Encouragement and Empowerment Intervention on Black university students' outcomes. A total of 207 Black students were randomly assigned to one of two conditions: encouragement (reading and writing race-and-gender specific encouragement letters) or a control (reading and writing tips about how to do well in school). Both conditions did not exhibit significantly different changes in outcomes, with the exception that the control condition demonstrated a slightly greater decrease in mental/emotional fatigue. Post hoc tests showed preliminary evidence of increased social self-esteem, academic self-efficacy, and decreased hopelessness about future success in the intervention condition, but no significant change in the control condition. Racial private regard moderated the relationship between condition and psychological distress such that the encouragement intervention had a larger effect on psychological distress and depression among participants with lower levels of racial private regard. Gender moderated the relationship between the condition and gender identity satisfaction, such that men benefited from the encouragement intervention, but women did not. Overall, this study provides preliminary evidence for the intervention's potential to improve certain Black students' mental health and identity-related outcomes.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1506522
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: An Experimental Evaluation of a Black Encouragement and Empowerment Intervention for University Students
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Nelson+O%2E+O%2E+Zounlomè%22">Nelson O. O. Zounlomè</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6205-6101">0000-0002-6205-6101</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Y%2E+Joel+Wong%22">Y. Joel Wong</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Diversity+in+Higher+Education%22"><i>Journal of Diversity in Higher Education</i></searchLink>. 2026 19(1):98-108.
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  Data: American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 11
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Students%22">College Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22African+American+Students%22">African American Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Positive+Reinforcement%22">Positive Reinforcement</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Empowerment%22">Student Empowerment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Intervention%22">Intervention</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Self+Esteem%22">Self Esteem</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Self+Efficacy%22">Self Efficacy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychological+Patterns%22">Psychological Patterns</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Gender+Differences%22">Gender Differences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Racial+Factors%22">Racial Factors</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Self+Concept%22">Self Concept</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Gender+Identity%22">Gender Identity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Resilience+%28Psychology%29%22">Resilience (Psychology)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Anxiety%22">Anxiety</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Depression+%28Psychology%29%22">Depression (Psychology)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Well+Being%22">Well Being</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SU" term="%22Depression+Anxiety+and+Stress+Scales%22">Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1037/dhe0000635
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  Data: 1938-8926<br />1938-8934
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Given the challenges that Black university students face, this study examined the impact of a Black Encouragement and Empowerment Intervention on Black university students' outcomes. A total of 207 Black students were randomly assigned to one of two conditions: encouragement (reading and writing race-and-gender specific encouragement letters) or a control (reading and writing tips about how to do well in school). Both conditions did not exhibit significantly different changes in outcomes, with the exception that the control condition demonstrated a slightly greater decrease in mental/emotional fatigue. Post hoc tests showed preliminary evidence of increased social self-esteem, academic self-efficacy, and decreased hopelessness about future success in the intervention condition, but no significant change in the control condition. Racial private regard moderated the relationship between condition and psychological distress such that the encouragement intervention had a larger effect on psychological distress and depression among participants with lower levels of racial private regard. Gender moderated the relationship between the condition and gender identity satisfaction, such that men benefited from the encouragement intervention, but women did not. Overall, this study provides preliminary evidence for the intervention's potential to improve certain Black students' mental health and identity-related outcomes.
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  Data: 2026
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  Label: Accession Number
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  Data: EJ1506522
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1037/dhe0000635
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 11
        StartPage: 98
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: College Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: African American Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Positive Reinforcement
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Empowerment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Intervention
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Self Esteem
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Self Efficacy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychological Patterns
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Gender Differences
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Racial Factors
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Self Concept
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Gender Identity
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Resilience (Psychology)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Anxiety
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Depression (Psychology)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Well Being
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: An Experimental Evaluation of a Black Encouragement and Empowerment Intervention for University Students
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