Social isolation among young Black Women: implications for social work

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper contributes to the grand challenge of social work to eradicate social isolation by presenting the findings of a secondary data analysis on social isolation among young Black women. The authors studied the relationship between the intimacy levels in young Black women’s social networks and their self-perceived life satisfaction. This study informs the cultural sensitivity of Erikson’s psychosocial stage model of development and has important implications for social work education and practice. While focus is on young adulthood, the issue of social isolation permeates the lifespan of Black women.