Black Students' Perceptions of Racial Ideology and the Link to Psychosocial Health.
This study examined racial ideology types and related psychosocial and mental health outcomes in Black American college students. The purpose of this study was to obtain Black college students' perceptions about the findings on racial ideology types and related health outcomes from two studies (Neville, Coleman, Falconer, & Holmes, in press; Neville, Baker, Hale & 2004); and to examine the applicability of the identified racial ideology types in these two studies to Black American college students. Focus group methodology was used to aid in this process. Eight self identified Black American college students participated. Three themes were identified related to the participants' perceptions of the research findings on racial ideology types, including: Makes Sense, Lacks Complexity, and Developmental in Nature. Two themes were identified related to the racial ideology and mental health link, including: Awareness Equals Unhappiness and Too Complex. The results of this study suggested that the racial ideology types of the two studies have external validity. However, there were several limitations in this study, which are discussed.
School:
Howard University
Department:
Psychology
Research Advisor:
Dr. Helen A. Neville
Department of Research Advisor:
Educational Psychology
Year of Publication:
2004