Perceptions of food among adult African Americans in the primary care setting

Introduction: The medical population lacks satisfactory information concerning the views regarding food perception among both male and female adult African Americans with consideration of chronic diseases, highest education level and marital status. The idea has not been fully exploited in research which has provoked the study. This study examines the views of food perception in relation to the health care and wellbeing of individuals. It offers satisfactory data that would in turn bring about the easy understanding of different perceptions concerning food choices, evaluating whether level of education and chronic disease play any role in decision making. It aims to make recommendations of the need for deploying healthier diet practices for better health outcomes. Methodology: The research is a mixed qualitative and quantitative study using both recorded interviews and a demographic questionnaire for data collection. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the demographic questionnaire was transcribed by the investigator according to the volunteer participant's verbalized answers, who were conveniently selected on their scheduled clinic visit day. The participant read and signed the form after hands sanitized containing 70% ethyl alcohol gel. The second part of the study was a telephonic interview, which was recorded, and information transcribed onto an excel worksheet in preparation for analysis. Data was collected and tabulated in an excel worksheet and then uploaded to Statistical Packages and Software Services (SPSS) an IBM application that aided in simplifying data presentation in the form of graphs which made it easier to draw conclusions. Results: There were 65 participants with 48 females and seventeen 17 males, and 56.9% with a college education in the study of which 84.6% were responsible for buying and preparing food. From the research analysis of the collected data, it was discovered that 43.1% of participants admitted to not eating healthy, 23.1% being influenced by maintaining health, 21.5% to being influenced by taste, and 15.4% eating as their medical condition recommends. Conclusion: To promote healthier food choices we need to embrace useful education and motivation strategies to encourage healthy food perception and hence healthy eating. To minimize the risks that may emerge from unhealthy food perceptions, the recommendation is crucial for meaningful collaboration with African Americans to prioritize and implement improved dietary habits and reduce diet-related chronic diseases. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Black women and girls: Racism and intersectional oppression

The duel systemic societal harms of the COVID-19 pandemic and violent racial injustice have reexposed centuries-long oppression and violence that affects Black people in the United States. These systemic harms, however, are not unilaterally distributed across racial lines, as Black women and girls endure intersectional oppression, including the unique amalgamation of racism and sexism. It is within these interlocking oppressions that sexual abuse flourishes. This chapter opens with critical visioning regarding how we understand inequality in social justice movements. It introduces scholarship on anti-Black racism, intersectional oppression, and Crenshaw's (1991) theories of intersectionality to frame the contextually oppressive experiences of Black women and girls. The chapter provides an application for examining intersectionality within the field of psychology. It details what such intersectional oppression can actually look like in the lives of Black women and girls. Finally, the chapter closes with summary bullet points of the main takeaway messages. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Development of a core outcome set for studies investigating safety, efficacy, and implementation of COVID-19 vaccines: A collaboration with African American/Black communities in Baltimore City, Maryland

Background: Since it was declared a global pandemic in March 2020, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has claimed over one million lives in the United States. Since COVID-19 vaccine rollout efforts began in Baltimore City, Maryland in December 2020, approximately 63.4% of all residents have been fully vaccinated (i.e., received their first and second doses in a two-dose series or received a single-dose vaccine). Despite efforts to implement equitable vaccine distribution in Baltimore City, prominent disparities in COVID-19 vaccine uptake persist, with poorer, predominantly Black neighborhoods frequently reporting lower levels of vaccine uptake than affluent, predominantly White neighborhoods. Guided by key principles of community-based participatory research, this dissertation explores community experiences with COVID-19 vaccines and develops a core outcome set (COS), inclusive of community-important outcomes, for use in studies evaluating the safety, efficacy, and implementation of COVID-19 vaccines. Methods: In March 2022, semi-structured interviews were held with vaccinated and unvaccinated Black residents of a community in Baltimore City reporting 40% vaccination uptake. Data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis with subsequent subgroup analyses and thematic network analyses. To assess the extent to which outcomes measured in COVID-19 vaccine studies published between December 2019 and March 2022 aligned with factors of vaccine hesitancy, a systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted. Results from the qualitative analyses and the SLR informed the development of a candidate list of outcomes used in the first round of a Delphi study held in June 2020. After two rounds of Delphi survey distribution, a face-to-face consensus meeting was held with community members and community health workers to prioritize outcomes of interest to all relevant stakeholders and finalize the COS. Results: Thematic analysis yielded four emergent themes relating to COVID-19 vaccine uptake decision making: (I) Safety and efficacy of vaccines, (II) Perceived importance of COVID-19 vaccines in relation to pre-existing community needs, divided into two subthemes, a) Environmental injustice and (b) Personal health concerns, (III) Access to trustworthy, understandable information, and (IV) Physical access to vaccines. Participants acknowledged that physical access to COVID-19 vaccines was not a major barrier to uptake, however finding trustworthy and understandable information about the safety and efficacy of the vaccines were common areas of concern. Of all primary outcomes (N=20) identified in the 56 articles included in the SLR, 85% (n=17) corresponded with factors of vaccine hesitancy. The final COS included 19 outcomes across four "domains:" "Is the vaccine safe?";"Does the vaccine work in my body?";"Does the vaccine work in the community?";and "Outcomes identified during consensus meeting." Conclusion: The findings from this dissertation suggest that although community-important outcomes related to safety and efficacy of vaccines are often addressed in clinical studies, outcomes measuring institutional trust, economic and health impacts, community acceptance of the vaccines, and trustworthiness of vaccine information are underutilized in studies of vaccine implementation. As these social factors function as barriers to vaccine uptake, particularly among underserved communities, they should be regarded as indicators of equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. The findings from this dissertation provide a framework with which public health researchers can begin to rethink measures of equity in vaccine rollout efforts. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Positive Changes in Safety Perception Among Blacks with HIV and Comorbidities: Assessment of Social Determinants of Health During COVID-19.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on social determinants of health (SDOH) among Blacks with HIV and a comorbid diagnosis of hypertension or type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: This was a longitudinal survey study. The inclusion criteria were adults ≥ 18 years and the presence of hypertension and/or diabetes, along with a positive HIV diagnosis. This study enrolled patients in the HIV clinics and chain specialty pharmacies in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area. A survey of ten questions examining SDOH was conducted before, during, and after the lockdown. A proportional odds mixed effects logistic regression model was applied to assess differences between time points. RESULTS: A total of 27 participants were included. Respondents felt significantly safer in their living place post-lockdown than in the pre-lockdown period (odds ratio = 6.39, 95% CI [1.08-37.73]). No other statistically significant differences in the responses were found over the study timeframe. However, borderline p values indicated better SDOH status post-lockdown as compared to pre-lockdown. CONCLUSION: Study participants feel safer one year after lockdown compared to pre-lockdown. The CARES Act and the moratorium on rent and mortgage are among the factors that may explain this increase. Future research should include designing and evaluating interventions for social equity enhancement.

Black tax: Experiences of Black professional mothers during COVID-19

The purpose of this research study is to illuminate the lived experiences and Black tax professional Black mothers have incurred during the pandemic. Black tax, defined through the lens of Black professional mothers, proposes a new perspective: the intersectionality of being Black, a woman and a survivor of the COVID-19 pandemic. Guided by the strong Black woman schema and Double ABC-X Model as theoretical frameworks, this study examined the inequities of the additional stressors and responsibilities of working from home, heightened parent engagement, financial insecurity, and mental stress. During the timeframe of August 2020 and October 2021, Black mothers self-reported stressors and described their financial, job and housing insecurities to the U.S. Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey (HPS), publicly accessible data set. Data was collected biweekly for real time tracking. A series of chi-square goodness of fit tests and descriptive characteristics including frequency analysis were conducted to answer eight research questions. Three overarching key questions directed the statistical analyses: 1) How do Black mothers report stressors? 2) How do Black mothers describe their financial security and insecurity? 3) How did Black mothers navigate working from home and online education? Key findings indicated significant disproportionate levels of distress Black mothers compared to non-Black mothers during the pandemic. Results exposed the financial fragility, food insufficiency, housing insecurity and health inequities of this subset group. Implications for the field expanding current focus of societal effects of the pandemic to include examining the crisis Black professional mothers are struggling to manage as a result of the pandemic. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

"to feel supported in your community is to feel loved": Cultivating community and support for black transmasculine people navigating anti-black racism and covid-19 pandemic

Background: Black transmasculine people are disproportionately affected by a myriad of intersecting stressors including racism (specifically anti-Black racism), sexism, cissexism. Black transmasculine people are exposed daily to systemic oppression such as transphobia, dehumanization, and violence, making this community more vulnerable to mental health and physical health concerns. These experiences are further compounded by the lack of relevant literature on the unique experiences of Black transmasculine people during the COVID-19 pandemic and anti-Black racism. Aims: Utilizing a critical intersectional lens and Prilleltensky's psychopolitical validity as guiding frameworks, the present study investigates the need for support and community within the Black transmasculine community in navigating anti-Black racism during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The researchers integrated intersectionality and Prilleltensky's psychopolitical validity as frameworks paired with the constructivist grounded theory paradigm outlined by Charmaz to analyze data. The researchers co-constructed meaning from participants' perspectives, providing a theoretical understanding for exploring Black transmasculine participants' perceptions of community and support during COVID-19 (N = 32). Results: The researchers developed a model of pathways toward community and support. The model suggests two levels: (a) locating awareness of community and support, and (b) integrated action toward community and support. The approaches are integrated from within group action and actions that can be facilitated from outside the community on micro and macro sociological levels to provide holistic support and community for Black transmasculine people. Discussion: This model extends the current literature on liberation, community psychology, and community support at the intersection of transgender people of color. This intervention can provide awareness, insight, and action for working alongside the Black transmasculine community their unique needs of support and community. These findings hope to enhance clinical practices, and identify strategies to promote community, support, and wellness among Black transmasculine people. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Exclusionary discipline: Urban elementary school teachers' perceptions of African American students' behaviors

School suspension and expulsion are not limited to middle and high school students;these exclusionary approaches to discipline begin in early childhood settings such as elementary schools. Most studies regarding exclusionary discipline have been conducted on the middle and high school level, but there are very limited studies regarding exclusionary discipline in early childhood or elementary school level. African American elementary school students are disproportionately represented in multiple school suspensions. Although the majority of school suspensions were not due to violent school crimes, but for discretionary offenses, zero tolerance policies have substantially contributed to students being suspended or expelled for trivial infractions. The purpose of this study was to use qualitative research to investigate New York City's public elementary school teachers' perceptions of African American students' behaviors, and how teachers would describe effective behavior intervention approaches for African American students. Data were collected through the use of interviews and journal prompts completed by teachers during the fall of 2021. Results from this study showed that African American students were perceived by the teacher participants as having similar behaviors to other children of various racial and ethnic groups, and needed effective behavior intervention approaches that addressed mental health counseling, extra-curricular and movement activities, preventative measures to discipline, and culturally responsive education. The results obtained from this study may inform educators and policymakers of social justice alternatives to exclusionary discipline. Further studies are needed to examine the "sit still culture" and the role of movement activities and kinesthetic learning modalities as behavioral intervention approaches to lessen disruptive behaviors and curb punitive exclusionary practices, as well as the effects of social justice alternatives to exclusionary discipline as a support system for black students post COVID-19. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Mental health in black women with endometriosis-related symptoms during COVID-19

Endometriosis is an incurable chronic illness impacting 190 million women worldwide. Despite the prevalence of this painful disease, research addressing how it affects Black women in the United States was limited. Research addressing this phenomenon during the COVID-19 pandemic was further limited. The purpose of this qualitative study employing an interpretative phenomenological analysis was to understand the mental health of Black women with endometriosis-related symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic and how having the illness during the pandemic might have impacted individuals in this population. The strong Black woman schema and biopsychosocial model were the theoretical foundations for the study. Data were collected from semistructured interviews with eight Black women with endometriosis. Four major themes emerged from coding and thematic analysis: health, life with endometriosis, the U.S. health care system, and the nature of being a Black woman in the United States. Findings may be used to enhance awareness of Black women's experiences with endometriosis while facing cultural stigmas, systemic disparities, COVID-19 restrictions, and other barriers. Findings could also encourage positive social change through increased funding for endometriosis research and resources to educate providers, raise public awareness, and provide culturally appropriate support and treatment for Black women. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Black men, mental health & the national health service

This paper emerged from a talk delivered to the community and members of the Tower Hamlets African and Caribbean Mental Health Organisation (THACMHO) for Black History Month in October 2022. A growing body of evidence exposes the persistence of racism and inequality within health service provision and the psychological professions. This has led to a commitment across all professional bodies to address as a significant matter. This paper explores the links between racism and intergenerational trauma and the consequences on Black men's mental health. The author probes the gaps in services and inequalities using a psychoanalytic lens. Men from Africa and the Caribbean face disproportionate rates of mental health diagnoses and poor care provision. However, little or no consideration is given to intergenerational trauma and cultural factors. At the heart of the paper sits the question: What happens to Black men in the mental health system and why? The author considers whether cultural insensitivity might be a barrier to accessing mental health care and explores the differential treatment options, outcomes, and possible reasons and solutions for the future. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Using the integrated theory of health behavior change to assess factors affecting diabetes medication adherence among black adults during COVID-19: an explanatory sequential mixed methods design.

OBJECTIVES: (1) Evaluate changes in medication adherence and the role of psychosocial and interpersonal factors on adherence. (2) Explain the changes in medication adherence based on patient perceptions of adherence behaviors. DESIGN: We used an explanatory sequential mixed methods design for surveys at baseline and 1-year follow-up, followed by interviews. The Integrated Theory of Health Behavior Change guided the design of a questionnaire including self-reported measures of medication adherence, psychosocial factors such as illness and medication beliefs, self-efficacy, and depressive symptoms, interpersonal factors including social support and patient-provider communication, and socio-demographic and clinical factors. A convenience sample (n = 228) of adult patients with type 2 diabetes who self-identified as Black/African American completed the mail/telephone surveys. Nine semi-structured interviews were conducted with respondents of both surveys who had changes in medication adherence. Descriptive, mean differential, bivariate correlational analyses, and content analysis was conducted. Data integration merged quantitative and qualitative results as a joint display. RESULTS: Response rates for the baseline and follow-up survey were 28% and 47% respectively. Medication adherence scores were significantly correlated with illness perceptions (r = .30) and depression (r = .25) at baseline, and self-efficacy (r = -.51) and depression (r = .37) at follow-up. Qualitative themes included patient perceptions of adherence behaviors, impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, health literacy and self-efficacy. Mixed methods integration showed contrasting perceptions of the same themes including adherence behaviors, medication beliefs, social support, and patient-provider communication among participants whose medication adherence increased and decreased overtime. CONCLUSION: Self-efficacy, diabetes beliefs, and depressive symptoms were key psychosocial factors that affected medication adherence among Blacks/African Americans. Contrasting perceptions of beliefs in medicines, social support, provider relationships and communication among increased and decreased adherence participant groups explained the changes in adherence, which can be used to adapt existing interventions.

Young Black trans and gender-diverse activists' well-being among anti-Black racism and cissexism during the COVID-19 pandemic

Research has documented the negative mental health outcomes that anti-Black racism and cissexism, respectively, have had on Black and trans and gender-diverse (TGD) people during the COVID-19 pandemic. This research, however, has yet to explore the intersectional experiences of Black TGD young adults. Additionally, research has found that activists are often exposed to violence and discrimination. In this study, we aimed to understand how the intersection of anti-Black racism and cissexism has impacted young Black TGD activists' well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. A community sample of 15 Black TGD young adults participated in semistructured interviews. Thematic analysis revealed five themes and 14 subthemes, including (a) witnessing and experiencing violence (everyday violence, political violence, police violence, and medical violence, (b) motivating and sparking activism, (c) emotional impact (fear and anxiety, symptoms of depression, anger and frustration, and overwhelmed and shocked), (d) coping with violence and COVID-19 pandemic (activism, community connections and support, setting boundaries, self-reflection, positivity and hope, and activities and hobbies), and (e) safety precautions. We provide implications for practitioners working with young Black TGD activists such as engaging in civil disobedience within the bounds of their ethical duties. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved) Impact Statement Little is known about the intersectional experiences of young Black TGD activists and the impact of anti-Black racism and cissexism on the well-being of this community during the COVID-19 pandemic. The current study explores the impact that anti-Black racism and cissexism have had in a community sample of 15 young Black TGD activists during the COVID-19 pandemic. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

"just one more thing on our plate that makes it undesirable to be around": African americans' experiences during covid-19

As a historically marginalized group, African Americans experience social stigma resulting from the legacies of slavery and discrimination. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic presents unique challenges for African Americans in coping with pandemic-related stigma, specifically with implications for disease testing, treatment, and spread. This research focused on African Americans' experiences with social stigma during COVID-19. A diverse group of twenty-six African American adults participated in this study, which was guided by the social stigma frameworks of Goffman (1963) and Link and Phelan (2001). Thematic analysis of data suggests that participants expressed that COVID-19 created another layer of stigma and discrimination to manage. Additionally, participants viewed media and public health reports as further stigmatizing Black communities. Participants also reported urgency and responsibility for their well-being and agency in developing opinions on COVID-19 information. Findings offer insight into health communication approaches to address COVID-related stigma in public health messaging. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Exploring black adolescents' perceptions of god during covid-19: God images as a source of wellness

The purpose of this study was to examine challenges Black adolescents may experience because of COVID-19 and coping strategies employed to navigate their reported difficulties. The current study used secondary data analysis to understand how Black U.S. adolescents' positive images of God contributed to their emotional well-being in response to stressors associated with COVID-19. Data from a larger study were extracted from 11 Black adolescents' (Ages 12-17;54.5% female) individual interview transcripts;and the research team used an interpretative phenomenology process to analyze the data. Participants' experiences of God as a (a) Teacher, (b) Powerful Being, and (c) Comforter served as robust contributors to their feelings of strength, hope, assurance, calmness, contentment, and motivation, despite the challenges they encountered. This study presents a culturally responsive approach to understanding and potentially responding to Black adolescents' mental health needs during the COVID-era. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

The Perfect Storm: COVID-19 Health Disparities in US Blacks.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) accounts for over 180,000 deaths in the USA. Although COVID-19 affects all racial ethnicities, non-Hispanic Blacks have the highest mortality rates. Evidence continues to emerge, linking the disproportion of contagion and mortality from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), a result of adverse social determinants of health. Yet, genetic predisposition may also play a credible role in disease transmission. SARS-CoV-2 enters cells by interaction between SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and the receptor molecule angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) expressed on the surface of the target cells, such that polymorphisms and the expression level of ACE2 influence infectivity and consequent pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2. Genetic polymorphisms in other multiple genes, such as acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and interleukin-6, are also closely associated with underlying diseases, such as hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus, which substantially raise SARS-CoV-2 mortality. However, it is unknown how these genetic polymorphisms contribute to the disparate mortality rates, with or without underlying diseases. Of particular interest is the potential that genetic polymorphisms in these genes may be influencing the disparity of COVID-19 mortality rates in Black communities. Here, we review the evidence that biological predisposition for high-risk comorbid conditions may be relevant to our ability to fully understand and therefore address health disparities of COVID-19 deaths in Blacks.

The lived experience of African American women leaders concerning intersectionality and the methodologies they utilize to overcome barriers to leadership

African American women face barriers that prevent them from obtaining leadership positions. As a result, African American women are underrepresented in leadership positions. During the midst of the Coronavirus (COVID) Pandemic in 2020, the participation rate for African American women was 58.8% in the labor force, compared to all women, which was 56.2%. However, African American women only represented 1.4% of C-Suite, leadership positions. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of 10 African American women leaders at the GS-14 and GS-15 grade level. The participants were supervisors who worked at federal government agencies in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area. The conceptual framework encompasses leadership, intersectionality, and methodologies to overcome barriers to leadership. The research questions are "What is the lived experience of African American women leaders concerning intersectionality? and "What are the methodologies they utilize to overcome barriers to leadership?" Those who will benefit from this study include African American women aspiring to leadership positions and organizational leaders who aim to better understand the barriers that African American women face. The findings reflected how African American women leaders described their lived experiences and the methodologies they utilized to overcome barriers to leadership. Based on the findings, African American women leaders should continue to strive for equity in the workplace and should have the same opportunities as all counterparts. However, to further inclusion, more support needs to be provided to African American women in the workplace through organizational support. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Feminist perspectives on disaster, pandemics, and intimate partner violence

The COVID-19 pandemic brought international awareness to the likelihood of increased abuse of those in abusive intimate partner relationships because of the forced confinement with their abusers (Bettinger-Lopez and Bro, A double pandemic: domestic violence in the age of COVID 19, Council on Foreign Relations. https://www.cfr.org/in-brief/double-pandemic-domestic-violence-age-covid-19, 2020). While this awareness was much discussed, assistance to survivors of abuse was limited because survivors often could not reach out for help, nor could advocates wishing to offer assistance safely reach in to advise them (Taub, A new Covid-19 crisis: domestic abuse rises worldwide. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/06/world/coronavirus-domestic-violence.html, 2020). The ever-present influence of the abuser prevented or limited the delivery of effective aid in many cases (Taub, A new Covid-19 crisis: domestic abuse rises worldwide. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/06/world/coronavirus-domestic-violence.html, 2020). But this was not the first disaster to place those experiencing intimate partner abuse at greater risk. Other disasters have in various ways increased women's safety risks both during and after crisis. Other crises routinely resulted in increased abuse of survivors in intimate partner relationships including sexual and other assault by intimate partners (Rao 2020;Sohrabizadeh Prehosp Disaster Med, 31(4):407-412. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27212204, 2016). This chapter briefly identifies some forms of abuse experienced by women outside of the home during times of crisis and their connection to intimate partner abuse. Then, the impact of COVID-19 on intimate partner survivors will be explored and some of their experiences described. Gaps and flaws in nations' approaches to gender violence are often highlighted during and after disasters. Lack of planning to protect survivors of intimate partner violence and other highly vulnerable populations during crises was exacerbated by the additional dangers brought by COVID-19. Primarily, the heightened dangers resulted from stay-at-home orders, which made services for abused partners more difficult to obtain and highlighted the possibility of unintended consequences resulting from policies designed to protect the public as a whole (Godin 2020). This chapter concludes by considering what has been lacking in strategic disaster planning, including what lessons have been learned thus far through the COVID-19 experience. Recommendations for effective disaster planning to protect survivors of intimate partner abuse, while also protecting other vulnerable populations, are suggested. This information is presented with the caution that as of this writing the global pandemic continues to limit access to hard data. Long-term analysis of the implications of the pandemic on Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) survivors awaits the passage of time. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

The effect of source credibility on promising belief messages: A message pretesting study to address COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among Black Americans

Public health messaging campaigns can be useful tools for addressing vaccine hesitancy. Behavior change theory-driven formative research, which guides campaign planners in message topic selection, is necessary for campaigns' success. However, such research cannot advise on how to communicate campaign messages. Information processing theories propose avenues through which messages can be made more persuasive.Focusing on Black Americans, this dissertation aims to test an approach to improve future public health messaging campaigns targeting COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Specifically, it investigates whether source credibility (an information processing theory variable) can enhance the persuasiveness of differentially promising campaign message topics. These message topics refer to beliefs associated with intention to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.Study 1 was a two-part belief elicitation. In the first part (Study 1A) participants (N=117) reported their most salient beliefs related to the COVD-19 vaccine in an open-ended survey. The second part involved topic modeling on 5945 tweets discussing the vaccine. Beliefs identified from these studies were transformed into cross-sectional survey items for Study 2. Results from this study highlighted the utility in combining traditional survey data with publicly available social media data to learn about the health concerns of a target population.Study 2 (N=500) identified beliefs varying in promise, following the Hornik & Woolf approach, to be transformed into message topics. Study 3 was a message experiment where participants (N=245) were exposed to messages, addressing either a "more" or "less" promising topic, designed to increase vaccination intention. The messages were also either communicated by a health professional, or layperson source. Results of Study 3 indicated no main effects of neither message promise, nor source credibility on vaccination intention. Messages targeting the "less" promising topic shifted the linked belief, but the belief was not associated with intention. Messages on the "more" promising topic did not shift the linked belief, but the belief was strongly associated with intention. Evidence from these studies underline the benefit of choosing the most promising message topics when planning a public health messaging campaign. These results also suggest that additional research is needed to identify credible sources for vaccine non-intenders, and other differentiating characteristics of this unvaccinated population to develop effective public messaging campaigns in the future. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Exploring the lived experiences of African American fathers who were faculty members

Despite long-held, traditional gender role expectations in our society, fathers are seeing their roles as more than breadwinners and are contributing to caregiving duties at increasing rates. As a result, fathers are actively balancing participation in their home and work environments. As scholars produce literature on working fathers, it is essential to consider how specific occupations affect the work-life balance efforts of these parents. Scholars who study the experiences of faculty parents have often studied the perspectives of mothers. Fathers have received less scholarly attention. Factors related to gender norms, racial socialization, and climate may influence the experiences of fathers who were faculty members. Additionally, the COVID-19 global pandemic may present issues that affect the lived experiences of African American fathers who were faculty members, related to their workload and increased Racial Battle Fatigue (RBF). This research could make contributions not only to the literature on work-life balance for faculty parents but also to the literature on working fathers in particular.Therefore, the purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of African American fathers who were faculty members. I used social role theory as a theoretical guide. Using 20 semi-structured interviews via Zoom, I sought to provide insights into these men's lives. This information could be useful to those who support African American fathers who were faculty members, including coparents, institutional and departmental administrators, policymakers, faculty colleagues as well as faculty members themselves.The results were grouped into four findings. The first finding, Environmental Contexts and the Roles of Father and Faculty Member, focused on the contexts that both the COVID-19 pandemic and the sociopolitical climate created for this group of fathers. The second finding, Interpreting the Narratives of Black Men and Absent Black Fathers showed that the participants were aware of stereotypes and narratives of African American men as absent Black fathers. An emergent third finding related to Social Support and Work-Life Balance, was that most study participants were members of Black Greek Letter Organizations (BGLOs) and found instrumental, informational, and emotional social support from these relationships. Finally, through the fourth finding of this study, Microaggressions and Implicit Bias at Work, I revealed that experiences with microaggressions in the work environment, related to the participants being perceived as intimidating or characterized as the Angry Black Man, was a source of Mundane Extreme Environmental Stress (M.E.E.S.) for some participants. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Actively addressing systemic racism using a behavioral community approach

Recent police brutality and related violence against Black people, coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic, has further evidenced the disproportionate impact of systemic racism in our institutions and across society. In the United States, the alarming mortality rates for Black people due to police violence and COVID-19 related deaths are clear demonstrations of inequities within a long history of disparate outcomes. In understanding systemic racism, it is essential to consider how it is embedded within society and across socio-ecological levels. The Social-Ecological Model (SEM) is used to examine conditions within the environment that maintain systemic racism, including within our field and discipline. A behavioral-community approach for examining racism aids in determining points of intervention across multiple ecological levels that may contribute to behavior change, including with behaviorists. The science of behavior is well-suited to help examine the contingencies governing behaviors within and across systems, which is pivotal for addressing operant behaviors to influence long-term behavior change. This paper calls on the behavioral community to address systemic racism within our environments and systems of influence to contribute to a more equitable community. Systemic racism, including within the context of anti-Blackness, is examined by considering behavior change strategies that can be supported by behaviorists across socio-ecological levels. Tools for collaborative action are provided to support behaviorists in demonstrating the skills needed across a continuum of behaviors from allyship to anti-racism to actively address systemic racism. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Capitalism and the (il)logics of higher education's COVID-19 response: A Black feminist critique

In keeping with a recent wave of leisure studies focusing on race, racism, power, and oppression broadly and using a Black feminist lens, I will examine higher education's response to COVID-19 and illustrate how the illogic of capitalism robs us of our ability to recognize that we are in crisis. Despite the lip-service of our prepared statements in the midst of this chaos our responses were actually about organizational continuity, capitalism, and reducing our value to what we were able to sustain and what our bodies were able to produce. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)