Anita Jones Thomas

Racial Identity and Racial Socialization Attitudes of African American Parents

This study explores racial socialization messages used by African American parents, specific messages according to the gender of children, and the relationship between racial socialization and racial identity attitudes as measured by the Racial Identity Attitude Scale. One hundred four African American parents participated in the study. Racial socialization was seen as important to the vast majority of parents and they reported a wide variety of socialization messages. Chi-square analysis suggests that messages differ according to gender. Multiple regression analysis suggests that internalization attitudes contribute to 19% of the variance of racial socialization attitudes, indicating that parents with internalization attitudes are more likely to view racial socialization as important. Implications and limitations of the investigation are discussed, and suggestions for future research are presented.

Gendered racism, psychological distress, and coping styles of African American women.

This study explores the relationship of the accumulative effect of gendered racism, the discrimination felt by African American women, on psychological distress. The study also explores whether coping serves as a mediating variable between gendered racism and psychological distress. Over 300 African American women participated in the study and were administered the Symptoms Checklist 90, a revised version of the Schedule of Sexist Events, and the Africultural Coping Styles Inventory. A positive significant relationship between global psychological distress was found with experiences of gendered racism. Regression analyses suggest some degree of partial mediation on the relationship between gendered racism and global psychological distress via cognitive-emotional coping styles, but no mediating effects with spiritual-centered, collective, and ritual-centered coping. Suggestions for future research and implications are discussed.

Racial Identity Attitudes, School Achievement, and Academic Self-Efficacy Among African American High School Students

Literature has postulated that African American students often choose not to succeed in school because achievement is seen as acting White. This study examined the extent to which racial identity, self-esteem, and academic self-concept were related to academic achievementfor 86African American high school students. The majority of students indicated supportfrom both peers and parents for their academic work. Multiple regression analysis indicated that grade point average is best predicted by immersion racial identity attitudes and academic self-concept. Limitations of the present study, implications, and suggestionsforffuture research are presented.

Culturally sensitive assessment and treatment of eating disorders

The treatment of eating disorders is challenging. Complicating treatment is the belief that eating disorders exist primarily in young, White, American women. This article discusses the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of eating disorders in culturally diverse clients. Incolporated within is the relationships of acculturation, immigration, and ethnic identity to eating disorders. In addition, culturally specajk symptoms, worldviews, and values of Caucasians, African Americans, Native Americans, Asian Americans, and Hispanic Americans are discussed. Identifying risk factors and understanding the influence of culture on presenting symptoms assists in culturally sensitive treatment.

The Influence of the Trayvon Martin Shooting on Racial Socialization Practices of African American Parents

Many perceived the death of Trayvon Martin as racially motivated. We hypothesized that hearing about the death of Trayvon Martin also had an effect on African American parents. This qualitative investigation explored African American parents’ perceptions of the death of Trayvon Martin and how it affected the provision of racial socialization. The analysis indicated that a number of parents felt that Trayvon Martin’s death was a form of racial profiling and that young Black men needed to be protected. Participants were also worried about their children after the shooting and took approaches to explaining the shooting that involved discussing the presence of racism, framing it as an individual violent incident, as well as engaging in emotional processing with their children. Finally, parents also provided suggestions on what their children should do if they were placed in a similar situation. These included obtaining help, getting away from the perpetrator, being respectful to the perpetrator, and engaging in self-defense.

African American Women's Spiritual Beliefs

Abstract Spirituality and religious beliefs and practices have been used as a coping resource for African American women, along with Afrocentric values and beliefs. Many of the spiritual beliefs interact with stereotypes and images that have evolved from the legacy of slavery, specifically, Mammy, Sapphire, and Jezebel. The internalization of these images may lead to identity issues and psychological symptoms. Culturally sensitive treatment of African American women includes an understanding of spirituality and the interaction with stereotypes and identity issues. Guidelines for treatment are included, as well as case examples. Special thanks is given to Bernice Jones for assistance in preparation of this manuscript.

Impact of Racial Identity on African American Child-Rearing Beliefs

This study explores the impact of racial identity attitudes on African American parents’ child-rearing beliefs. Specifically, the study seeks to understand differences on family ties, discipline, independence, obedience, and religion according to racial identity attitudes. Participants were 104 parents who were administered the Black Parental Attitude Scale and the Racial Identity Attitude Scale. Results indicate that parents with immersion attitudes endorse discipline and religion but do not support independence in children. Parents with internalization attitudes support all of the Afrocentric parenting beliefs and child-rearing practices included in the study, such as cleanliness, family ties, obedience, religion, and independence in children.

John Henryism, Depression, and Perceived Social Support in Black Women

John Henryism, a construct developed to describe high effort coping, may help explain the observed health disparities between Blacks and Whites. Previous research suggests that John Henryism is associated with negative physical health factors. However, little research has focused on the relationship between John Henryism and psychological distress. Accordingly, in this exploratory study, we examined the relationships between John Henryism, psychological distress, and well-being in a diverse sample of Black women. Results indicate that there is a negative correlation between John Henryism and depressive symptomatology. This finding is in contrast to past research and suggests that John Henryism may be maladaptive to physical health but not mental health. The limitations and implications of the findings are discussed.

Racial Socialization, Racial Identity, and Race-Related Stress of African American Parents

This study examines the relationship between racial identity, race-related stress, and racial socialization messages of over 400 African American parents. Results suggest that parents with higher levels of private regard or pride about being African American, and nationalist ideology are more likely to give racial socialization messages. Parents who have experienced race-related stress are also more likely to engage in racial socialization. Additionally, the results indicate parents with high private regard and who have experienced race-related stress serve as the best predictor of in racial socialization, suggesting the recognition of the importance of buffering children from acts of racism. Implications for counseling, parenting programs, and further research are provided.

Aging Out of Care in Ethiopia Challenges and Implications Facing Orphans and Vulnerable Youth

This interpretive study examines the experiences of 54 Ethiopian emerging adults who had aged out of institutional care facilities. Findings are derived from interviews and focus groups in which questions and activities focused on the challenges faced by participants and the supports they relied on throughout the transition process. These young adults reported facing many challenges upon leaving care, including difficulty finding gainful and interesting employment, a lack of many basic life skills, difficulty finding a support network, and significant stigma in the community due to their background in care. These challenges led to problems in creating any security during this life stage, including obtaining both housing and employment. In the midst of these many challenges, participants consistently reported that they turned to other care alumni for both material and emotional support. This article seeks to develop a beginning understanding of the complex dynamics of navigating emerging adulthood following transition from institutional care in Ethiopia.