View in EDS

"Easier Said Than Done": A Qualitative Investigation of Black Emerging Adults Coping With Multilevel Racism.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: "Easier Said Than Done": A Qualitative Investigation of Black Emerging Adults Coping With Multilevel Racism.
Authors: Volpe, Vanessa V. (AUTHOR), Katsiaficas, Dalal (AUTHOR), Neal, Aaron J. (AUTHOR)
Source: Lancet. Jul2021, Vol. 27 Issue 3, p495-504. 10p.
Subjects: Transition to adulthood, Young adults, Mental health policy, Mental health personnel, Institutional racism, Racism
Abstract: Objectives: This qualitative investigation examined how Black emerging adults cope with their worst experiences of racism at multiple levels (individual, cultural, and institutional). Methods: A sample of 189 Black emerging adults (Mage = 19.34, 68.3% female) from a predominantly White institution completed an online questionnaire with an open-ended question regarding their worst experience of racism and how they coped. Responses to these questions were coded using deductive coding schemes based on established theory—Jones' (1997) tripartite model of racism and Harrell's (2000) typology of coping. Results: Results indicated that the majority of participants utilized active and inner-directed coping strategies in response to their worst experience. More participants responded to institutional-level racism with active rather than passive coping. There were no differences in proportions of participants who responded to individual- or cultural-level racism with active rather than passive coping. Similar proportions of participants also reported inner-directed versus outer-directed coping in response to individual-, cultural-, and institutional-level experiences. Conclusions: Implications for practice, policy, and programming to support the mental health of Black emerging adults are discussed. Public Significance Statement: This study suggests that Black emerging adults take action to cope when they experience structural racism that blocks their access to resources and/or opportunities. Mental health practitioners could use clients' context-specific and gendered ways of coping with their worst experience of racism as a therapeutic tool, alongside their efforts to change macrolevel systems to ensure health equity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Lancet is the property of Lancet and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
Description
Abstract:Objectives: This qualitative investigation examined how Black emerging adults cope with their worst experiences of racism at multiple levels (individual, cultural, and institutional). Methods: A sample of 189 Black emerging adults (Mage = 19.34, 68.3% female) from a predominantly White institution completed an online questionnaire with an open-ended question regarding their worst experience of racism and how they coped. Responses to these questions were coded using deductive coding schemes based on established theory—Jones' (1997) tripartite model of racism and Harrell's (2000) typology of coping. Results: Results indicated that the majority of participants utilized active and inner-directed coping strategies in response to their worst experience. More participants responded to institutional-level racism with active rather than passive coping. There were no differences in proportions of participants who responded to individual- or cultural-level racism with active rather than passive coping. Similar proportions of participants also reported inner-directed versus outer-directed coping in response to individual-, cultural-, and institutional-level experiences. Conclusions: Implications for practice, policy, and programming to support the mental health of Black emerging adults are discussed. Public Significance Statement: This study suggests that Black emerging adults take action to cope when they experience structural racism that blocks their access to resources and/or opportunities. Mental health practitioners could use clients' context-specific and gendered ways of coping with their worst experience of racism as a therapeutic tool, alongside their efforts to change macrolevel systems to ensure health equity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:01406736
DOI:10.1037/cdp0000446