Hargons CN, Malone N, Montique C, Dogan J, Stuck J, Meiller C, Sanchez A, Sullivan QA, Bohmer C, Curvey R, Woods I, Tyler K, Oluokun J, Stevens-Watkins D. "White people stress me out all the time": Black students define racial trauma.
Cultur Divers Ethnic Minor Psychol 2022;
28:49-57. [PMID:
34291977 PMCID:
PMC8776568 DOI:
10.1037/cdp0000351]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
Using a constructivist-interpretivist paradigm and a Black feminist qualitative framework, this study investigated how Black students at a predominantly White university in the southeast defined racial trauma.
METHOD
A purposive sample of 26 participants (10 men and 16 women, aged 18-27) participated in a semistructured interview about their definitions of race-based stress and racial trauma. Data analysis consisted of a six-phase inductive, latent thematic analysis. Researcher reflexivity, interviews, observations, and research memos contributed to trustworthiness.
RESULTS
Participants' understandings of race-based stress and racial trauma-informed two composite definitions of racial trauma. Participants conceptualized racial trauma and race-based stress as related and identified three salient components of racial trauma: (a) "Sticking with": temporal component, (b) "Suffering severely": intensity component, and (c) "Repeating regularly": frequency component.
CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this study contribute to the existing literature by providing an academic and community definition of racial trauma grounded in the voices of Black collegians. These definitions of racial trauma may be used to inform future research, clinical services, and outreach. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).
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