Research and writings on African Americans emphasize the role of religious institutions in providing access to social resources that benefit mental health. Findings from large national representative studies of African Americans emphasize the important role of ministers and pastors as primary sources of counseling for serious personal and emotional problems. While descriptively useful, such large epidemiologic studies cannot provide the level of detail gained from qualitative investigations. In this study, thirteen focus groups of younger (18 to 54) and older (55+) African American men and women were conducted. The findings are based on a team approach to grounded qualitative content analyses methods to discover and describe major themes related to age and gender differences in attitudes toward the use of ministers to cope with serious emotional problems among African Americans. Preliminary findings indicate that many African Americans are ambivalent about consulting ministers as a way to cope with personal problems. Some participants view the minister as a primary source of support while others express extreme reluctance to consult ministers for help. Prayer emerges as a key alternative to consulting ministers. These attitudes not only vary by age and gender, but interact with the specific type of problem (e.g., death, bereavement, financial, sexual, premarital counseling, etc) to produce additional variability in attitudes toward the use of ministers for counseling. The data also speak to the types of aid offered by ministers as well as reasons given for not consulting ministers for help. Attitudes toward professional mental health therapists are also explored.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session participants should be able to 1. describe methods for analyzing large qualitative datasets 2. articulate barriers to the role of pastoral counseling in the mental health of African Americans 3. discuss the implications of mental health professionals as an alternative source of help
Keywords: Ethnic Minorities, Religion
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.