In 2020, instances of anti-Black racism and racial injustice became increasingly prevalent and garnered widespread public attention. Simultaneously, the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to experiences of stress and elevated risk of exposure to maladaptive health outcomes. Black communities were disproportionately affected by these intersecting events, leaving them more vulnerable to increased stress and trauma, differential access to healthcare, and adverse mental health outcomes (Hooper et al., 2020; Schmitt et al., 2014; Vindegaard and Benros, 2020). In a sample of trauma-exposed Black adults residing in southwest Virginia, this mixed methods investigation examined the associations between psychopathology and exposure to COVID-19 and racial discrimination stressors, as well as between resilience/coping factors and psychological difficulties. Open-ended questions related to stressors, coping strategies, and mental health care perceptions and barriers were posed. Results indicated racial discrimination associated significantly with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety, and shame symptoms, whereas pandemic-related stress associated only with PTSD symptoms. Afrocentric worldview emerged as the most salient resilience factor negatively associated with psychopathology, followed by social support and resilient coping. Common barriers to care included a dearth in Black providers, feasibility factors, and limited availability of services, though the majority of the sample expressed a belief in mental health services as helpful. Future implications of this work include implementation of accessible, community-based resources, support for increased racial-ethnic representation among mental health providers, and incorporation of culturally-appropriate and client-centered strategies in existing evidence-based treatments. / Doctor of Philosophy / Shortly after the first declaration of COVID-19 as a global health pandemic, instances of racial injustice and police brutality captured national public attention. These intersecting stressors resulted in disproportionately elevated rates of poor health and economic outcomes, increased exposure to potentially traumatic events, and increased risk of mental health difficulties for Black Americans (Hooper et al., 2020; Schmitt et al., 2014; Vindegaard and Benros, 2020). In this investigation, 84 Black adults who reported living in southwest Virginia and had experienced at least one traumatic event in their lifetime completed an online survey. This survey included measures of exposure to traumatic events, COVID-19, and racial discrimination, psychological symptoms, and levels of coping and resilience. Participants also responded to a series of open-ended questions about stress, coping, and use of mental health services. Results of the investigation indicated that higher levels of racial discrimination were significantly associated with more posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety, and shame symptoms, whereas higher COVID-19 stress only associated with greater PTSD symptoms. Of the resilience variables, having a stronger alignment with an Afrocentric worldview was most associated with lower psychopathology, followed by higher social support and resilient coping. This sample reported several barriers to accessing formal mental health care such as low rates of Black providers in their area, cost, stigma, and a limited availability of services. Despite identified barriers, participants generally reported an ability to access services and believed therapy could be helpful. Implications of these results include support for accessible, community-based resources designed to bolster mental health, the need for increased recruitment and retention of diverse racial-ethnic mental health workers, particularly in rural areas, and the use of culturally-sensitive strategies within existing evidence-based clinical services.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/115158 |
| Date | 23 May 2023 |
| Creators | Dike, Janey Elizabeth |
| Contributors | Psychology, Jones, Russell T., Scarpa-Friedman, Bruce H., Brem, Meagan J., Kim-Spoon, Jungmeen, Breaux, Rosanna |
| Publisher | Virginia Tech |
| Source Sets | Virginia Tech Theses and Dissertation |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Dissertation |
| Format | ETD, application/pdf |
| Coverage | Virginia, United States |
| Rights | In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
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