Black Families Research Articles

LASTING IMPACTS OF ACES ON DEPRESSION/SUICIDAL THINKING IN BLACK DEMENTIA CAREGIVERS: A WITHIN-GROUP ANALYSIS

Abstract Family caregivers take on the caregiving role despite the quality of the pre-morbid relationship, and pre-morbid relationship quality is linked to many caregiving outcomes. As compared to White dementia family caregivers, Black caregivers often have lower rates of mental distress giving the misleading idea that they are not at risk for poor mental health outcomes. However, within-group analyses have been argued as a better design to understand variability of caregiver outcomes within racially minoritized groups. Therefore, we examined the long-term effects of childhood trauma on depression, depressive symptoms and suicidal thinking among Black dementia family caregivers. This study presents findings from a multi-time series study, in which participants (N=101) completed three waves including 21-day bursts of daily diary surveys (n=5,124). We utilized Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMM) to assess the influence of childhood physical neglect, emotional abuse, and physical abuse on risk of clinically significant depression, daily depressive symptom severity and daily suicidal thinking. GLMMs were conducted separately for each form of childhood trauma to avoid multicollinearity. GLMMs revealed all three forms of childhood trauma as risk factors for clinically significant depression over at each wave. Additionally, each form of childhood trauma was independently associated with increased daily depressive symptoms and suicidal thinking. Findings provide compelling evidence of the detrimental effects of childhood trauma on mental health among Black caregivers and help explain within-group variability. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions aimed at mitigating the long-term mental health consequences of early-life adversity in caregiving contexts.

EXPLORING CAREGIVING NETWORK CHARACTERISTICS FOR OLDER ADULTS LIVING WITH DEMENTIA ACROSS RACE/ETHNICITY

Abstract Black and Latinx older adults face a heightened risk of dementia or cognitive impairment. While minority communities often have family-focused supportive networks compared to White individuals, limited research has explored racial/ethnic disparities in caregiving networks (CGN) and contexts for people living with dementia (PLwD). This study investigates whether CGNs and caregiving contexts vary across racial/ethnic groups. Data from the 2015 National Health and Aging Trends Study (N=2,795) were used to analyze a subgroup of Black, Latinx, and White PLwD. Latent profile analysis identified dementia CGN profiles for each racial/ethnic group based on CGN size and composition (e.g., spouse, children, extended kin, non-kin). Multinomial logistic regression examined caregiving contexts associated with these CGN profiles for each race/ethnicity. Four CGN profiles were identified for each racial/ethnic group. The majority of Black PLwD (80%) were categorized into the “children and others (kin and non-kin)” group, with less spousal involvement. Latinx PLwD had smaller CGN profiles but a more balanced caregiver combination than Black peers. While some similarities in CGN configuration were observed across racial/ethnic groups, compositional differences were evident, influenced partly by sociodemographic and cultural contexts. These findings emphasize the importance of considering CGN disparities by race/ethnicity. Understanding these differences can inform the development of screening and intervention strategies to support caregivers within Black and Latinx families, who disproportionately bear caregiving responsibilities for PLwD.

THE PROCESS OF CULTURALLY ADAPTING AND TAILORING AN EXISTING PSYCHOEDUCATION PROGRAM FOR BLACK DEMENTIA CAREGIVERS

Abstract Racial differences and disparities related to caregiving experiences exist at alarming rates for service utilization, care hours, and living below the federal poverty level among Black Americans compared to White caregivers. We developed a course, Caregiving while Black, to appreciate the culturally salient contexts, values, roadblocks, and education for Black caregivers of persons living with dementia. This project moved beyond existing psychoeducational interventions focusing mainly on dementia-related or crisis management education for family caregivers by keeping equity issues at the forefront of caregiver education. The course took an assertively “For Us; By Us” approach, prominently employing the voices and faces of Black healthcare providers, family caregivers, and PLWD. Building on materials from another caregiver psychoeducation crisis management course, we adapted and tested the course in a no-control longitudinal trial (n =75). This was a time-consuming process that took approximately 12 months. We learned that community partners, providers, and caregivers were eager to be involved in the course’s design. Out of the 75 caregivers who consented, 32 completed the course. Caregivers who couldn’t complete the course indicated they lacked motivation, wanted more guidance, and desired face-to-face interaction. Several Black faith communities echoed the preference for face-to-face interaction. This feedback will direct the revision of the Caregiving while Black course by offering greater interactivity and a cohort structure with a synchronous component to complement the asynchronous content to add greater interactivity. Overall, Black caregivers greatly appreciated the team designing a course for them.

RACIAL/ETHNIC GROUP DIFFERENCES IN OLDER ADULTS’ INVOLVEMENT WITH ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES

Abstract Child protective services has long wrestled with concerns about Black and Hispanic families being disproportionately more likely to be investigated. In contrast, only one, small, recent study has quantified racial/ethnic group differences in adult protective services (APS). A paucity of research and inconsistent findings in this area have limited the generalizability of studies and complicated efforts to develop culturally sensitive practices for specific groups. The proposed project would represent the first national study of racial/ethnic group differences in older adults’ involvement in APS. It would provide the several key findings, including: a conceptual framework that explains why racial/ethnic group differences in APS may exist; benchmarks for the “typical” magnitude of racial/ethnic group differences in key APS metrics across most US states; identification of mistreatment types, genders, and age groups where racial/ethnic group differences in APS metrics are especially large; identification of the types of racial/ethnic group differences in APS metrics that vary markedly from state to state or county to county; and descriptions of the community (e.g., poverty rate) and organizational (e.g., APS agency) characteristics that help explain this variation. The project will also engage researchers, practitioners, and community leaders in three advisory teams. Their regular involvement will help ensure that the project employs the best available theories and methods, provides useful guidance for APS professionals, and reflects the priorities and lived experiences of the communities being studied.

EXPLORING USE OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES BY BLACK FAMILY DEMENTIA CAREGIVERS: FACILITATORS AND BARRIERS

Abstract In this qualitative study, we delve into the factors influencing community support services (CSS) utilization, including respite care and support groups. We conducted focus group discussions to uncover the barriers and facilitators that lead individuals to engage with or abstain from these services. Analyzing these factors will provide insights to enhance the effectiveness of CSS and its impact on the community. Our focus group involved six current or former Black family caregivers of persons with dementia (PWD). The virtual meeting, lasting approximately 1.5 hours, collected information on community support use, dementia care knowledge, and self-care practices. Transcriptions were thematically analyzed using the Rigorous and Accelerated Data Reduction (RaDAR) method—a team-based strategy to extract relevant data for specific project deliverables. Four key themes emerged to aid caregivers in managing their responsibilities: Education on Dementia Stages: Understanding different stages of dementia helps caregivers effectively manage challenging behaviors. Empowerment through Dementia Subtypes: Knowledge of various dementia subtypes enables caregivers to seek support groups for guidance. Respite Care Access: Learning about and accessing respite care prevents burnout and promotes well-being. Emotional Support: Addressing guilt provides emotional well-being for caregivers. As the older adult population grows, dementia caregiving becomes a critical public health issue. Family members caring for PWD in the community face significant challenges, emphasizing the importance of effective support services.

DEVELOPING A CULTURALLY TAILORED INTERVENTION FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN PARENT–ADULT DAUGHTER DEMENTIA DYADS

Abstract African American older adults are suggested to be two times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) compared to non-Hispanic White older adults. Thus, there is a need for more African American care partners. The largest group of care partners of African American persons living with ADRD, African American adult daughters, must navigate formal care decision making through the lens of race, gender, culture, and associated health disparities. Formal care—paid health care services for older adults usually associated with an institution— is important in the treatment of ADRD and maintenance of quality of life. Guided by the NIA Health Disparities Research Framework, Black Family Social-Ecological Context Model, and Superwoman Schema (SWS), this presentation will describe the first aim of this explanatory sequential design of a culturally tailored prototype intervention to support the formal care decision-making process for African American parent-adult daughter dementia dyads. Results from the preliminary analysis of 20 dyads highlight most are mother-daughter dyads (90%) with parents, on average, experiencing moderate cognitive impairment. Both parents and adult daughters report “good” health, “some” difficulty with family listening to their opinions, moderate to high decision self-efficacy, and moderate quality of life. Daughters report low SWS characteristics but high cultural justification for caregiving. Using these results, we will showcase the next steps of data collection, how theory guided our study, the intentionality of relationships status, and the role of community engagement as important considerations for dyadic prototype intervention development.

Deconstruction Analysis In The Context Of Critical Race Theory: ‘THEM’ Tv Series Film

This study is based on the TV series ‘Them’, written by Little Marvin and directed by Nelson Craig, which was released on the Amazon Prime Video digital platform in 2021 being analyzed using the deconstruction method. The series, which takes back in the 1950s’ United States when the black-white conflict was at its peak, is based on the traumatic events experienced by a black family over the course of 10 days after buying a house in a white neighborhood. Although the apparent message of the series includes the dichotomy of good vs. bad and oppressor vs. oppressed, the subtext brings mind Critical Race Theory in terms of the disregard for law in the face of racist ideology in the United States of that period. While the theory aims to reveal the historical forms of racism that lie behind the laws from a critical perspective, theorists argue that racism is normal in American society. The aim of the study is to analyze the 5 episodes of the first season of the series to reveal the invisible messages in the context of Critical Race Theory. In this study, the deconstruction method was used to try to make sense of the narrative that was established in the series through both linguistic and visual texts. At this juncture, the others and othering expressions in the series were examined thematically. It was explained how these phenomena were reflected in the text and signs of the series in the context of Critical Race Theory. Thus, the study will reveal the unlawful determining power of racist ideology over the ‘other’.

Incestuous Relations in Bessie Head and Sindiwe Magona

Apartheid and the migrant labour system affected the residential stability of black South African families in terms of wife-husband and father-child relations. The control exerted by apartheid laws made it impossible for generations of fathers for over one and a half centuries to raise their children (Wilson, 2006), affecting their personal and social behaviour. This article contends that in their use of literature as a political tool, writers Sindiwe Magona and Bessie Head offered a similar vision about the father-daughter relationship. Magona’s short story “It was Easter Sunday the day I went to Netreg” (1991) and Head’s short story “The Cardinals” (1995) portray a daughter and a father who do not know each other and who, years later and unknowingly, establish a sexual relation. This article will claim these incestuous relationships can be interpreted as the writers’ representation of the use and abuse the state exerted on its black citizens.

Adult sibling tension and psychological well-being in the context of older mothers’ health limitations: Variation by gender and race

Research on sibling relationships has documented an association between sibling tension and psychological well-being across the life course, however, less is known about how sibling tension in adulthood shapes psychological well-being in the context of older parents’ health limitations. We extend research on sibling tension and psychological well-being by considering the following: (1) Does the association between sibling tension and depressive symptoms vary by whether older mothers have health limitations? and (2) Does the association between sibling tension and depressive symptoms vary by gender or race when mothers have health limitations? To examine these research questions, we used mixed-methods data collected from 689 adult children nested within 287 families as part of the Within-Family Differences Study. Analysis using multi-level regression modeling revealed that the association between sibling tension and depressive symptoms did not vary by whether older mothers had health limitations nor gender. However, the association varied by race when mothers had health limitations. Specifically, the association between sibling tension and depressive symptoms was stronger in Black families in which mothers did not have health limitations compared to Black families in which mothers did have health limitations. In contrast, there were no differences in the strength of the association between sibling tension and depressive symptoms in White families, regardless of mothers’ limitations status. Qualitative findings indicated that for siblings in Black families, older mothers’ health limitations enhanced values of cohesion among adult children, reducing the association between sibling tension and depressive symptoms.

The Needs and Experiences of Black Families in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

To identify opportunities for improvement in quality of care, we explore Black families' experiences of family support in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) during their infant's hospital stay. Semistructured qualitative interviews or focus groups (FGs) were conducted to explore Black families' experiences of NICU hospitalization. Inclusion criteria were self-identification as a Black family member and infant admission to our NICU between January 2020 and February 2022. We conducted reflexive thematic analysis of recorded transcripts using Dedoose software. Three interviews and 2 FGs were conducted with 9 unique families (n = 13 individuals). We organized 10 key themes into "Experiences" and "Recommendations." Experience themes included distrust and fear of the medical setting, hypervigilance and trauma trajectory formation, the myth of "Black hardiness," policing and surveillance, and undermining of Black parenting. Recommendation themes implored NICU staff to earn rather than assume trust, respect family concerns, improve mental health support, provide compassionate care, and support the parenting role. In this single-center qualitative study of Black families' NICU encounters, families continue to experience differential treatment, which reinforces an untrustworthy medical system perpetuating structural racism. Family recommendations for improving care through transparent communication, advocacy and mental health support, increased engagement in their parental role, and decreasing biased treatment and provision of resources may improve their experience and mitigate hypervigilance and trajectory formation in our NICU.

Conceptualising Black (Co-)Reflexive Feminist Methodologies: Collaboration, Process and Critical Friendship

This article situates Black feminist research on race and class as a pre-determined collaborative process, which builds on a plethora of existing scholarship as well as on the relationships and wisdoms of others. We want to pay homage to the way we arrive at our ideas about social life together. We see lived experience(s) as a fundamental aspect of our work as social scientists and Black feminist practitioners, but also acknowledge the pitfalls of this approach. Using Bryel’s transcriptions of Chantelle’s ethnographic research with Black and Black mixed-race families as an example, we aim to bring a fresh perspective to this long-standing approach, while emphasising that this leaves us open to the creation of over-individualised accounts of often-marginalised social lives. We hope to further discourses that acknowledge and celebrate the numerous, complicated and personal pathways taken by researchers as they analyse their data, specifically in methodologically insider–outsider encounters.

Disorientation as a Tool of Surveillance-Coercion-Control in the Family Policing/Regulation System

Abstract This article analyzes how the family policing/regulation system utilizes disorientation as a tool to implement successive stages of surveillance, coercion, and control and to tear apart Black families while capturing children in the foster system. Through specific examples based on both the author’s own experiences and those she has witnessed in her work, the process of how families are targeted and ensnared in the family policing/regulation system becomes visible.

Bereaved parent preferences on quality end-of-life care for children with cancer in the South.

The authors sought to understand bereaved family preferences for end-of-life (EOL) care, particularly among Black families and those in the South. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with parents of children who died of cancer ≥6 months before at Children's of Alabama. Themes were identified via content analysis. Quotes related to medical intensity, chemotherapy, and location of death (LOD) were scored on 5-point Likert scales, ranging from 1 (comfort care, chemotherapy, or home death) to 5 (medically intense care, avoidance of chemotherapy, or hospital death). Twenty-seven bereaved parents (12 Black) were interviewed. Children died at a mean of 13.1 years (SD=6.1 years) and a median of 3 years before the interview (range=1-12 years). Ten children (42%) had central nervous system tumors and the majority (63%) died in the hospital. Family decision-making involved maintaining hope, not causing harm, doing what was best for their child and themselves, and religious beliefs. There was no clear preference for home versus hospital death (3.0 [1.8-4.0]). Instead, parents considered their child's desires and/or medical needs, siblings, and prior experiences with death. To have a comfortable death, parents highlighted the need for comprehensive education about their child's EOL, a caring and comfortable environment, and 24/7 access to their care team. Families expressed a dual preference for comfort care (1.8 [1.3-2.8]) and chemotherapy (3.5 [2.7-4.1]) at EOL. Families did not see chemotherapy and comfort care as conflicting goals. They sought quality care emphasizing flexibility, quality time with their child, and open access to their care team, regardless of LOD.

Blooming names: nature-based art therapy and poetry honoring Black lives

ABSTRACT Background Systemic racism in America has led to widespread racial stress and disenfranchised grief among Black communities. Two art therapists organised a community-based art therapy initiative aimed to address this grief and promote social change. Context Blooming Names took place in 2020 in Miami, FL, and provided Black families with poetry, art, and floral arranging workshops to process grief and honour loved ones lost to gun violence. These workshops culminated in public floral installations in Opa Locka and Liberty City, raising awareness of systemic racism and violence. Approach Integrating nature-based, decolonial, intersectional, and culturally humble frameworks, the initiative aimed to address systemic racism and violence through poetry, art, and floral design workshops. The project centred around public floral installations, which served as spaces for collective grief while advocating for systemic change and social justice. Outcomes The initiative needed more systematic user feedback. Collaborators expanded Blooming Names with additional workshops and trauma-informed training for K-12 teachers on gun violence. Conclusion Addressing the mental health effects of violence-related grief requires a collaborative effort from mental health professionals, community stakeholders, institutions, and society as a whole. Supporting community-based initiatives like Blooming Names is crucial for providing inclusive and accessible care across diverse communities. Implications for research Addressing the impacts of gun violence and systemic racism demands time and collaboration. Further research is needed on disenfranchised grief and the effectiveness of nature-based art therapy within Black communities. Plain-language summary Blooming Names, an art therapy initiative in Miami, Florida, aimed to address the need for community amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing impacts of gun violence and police brutality on Black individuals. Spearheaded by two art therapists collaborating with local organisations and artists, the project utilised culturally competent frameworks to provide poetry, art, and nature-based workshops that supported disenfranchised grief and fostered personal and communal expression. Grounded in these frameworks, the initiative aimed to honour and integrate diverse cultural perspectives, empowering participants while advocating for systemic change. The project culminated in two public floral installations in historically segregated neighbourhoods, Opa Locka and Liberty City, symbolising resistance, remembrance, and resilience. Blooming Names sought to raise awareness of systemic racism and violence, reduce stigma, and promote education and advocacy, serving as a powerful catalyst for deeper community engagement and social justice.

Henry Bibb’s (Dis)claiming Family: Malinda as a Case Study of Black Women’s Symbolic Annihilation in Antebellum Literature

Existing scholarship on the autobiography Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Henry Bibb prioritizes Bibb’s masculinity and the impact of slavery on Black families, often overlooking the complex experiences of enslaved Black women such as Bibb’s first wife Malinda within such a narrative. Amy Lewis’s article “Who’ll Speak for Malinda?” distinguishes itself by offering an alternative narrative focusing on Malinda’s experience. My paper builds on Lewis’s work by arguing that despite condemning slavery, Bibb’s narrative inadvertently perpetuates Malinda’s symbolic annihilation. Through a close reading of Bibb, my study attempts to reveal how enslaved women’s experiences are often omitted, trivialized, and condemned in American antebellum literature. By devoting particular attention to the “symbolic annihilation” of enslaved women, this paper responds to Amy Lewis’s call for alternate narratives and offers a critical shift in reading and interpreting depiction and omission of Black women in ex-enslaved narratives throughout nineteenth-century antebellum America. This approach has the potential to uncover the complex realities of Black women to offer valuable insights into their lives and experiences, thus challenging dominant interpretations of slave narratives.

Fixing crisis, transforming landscapes: Social, spatial, ecological, and racial fixes in New Deal South Carolina

This article examines the spatial, social, ecological, and racial fixes of the Santee-Cooper Project, a New Deal hydroelectric project constructed between 1938 and 1942 that inundated the homes of 901 Black, Indigenous, and poor White families in central South Carolina. Drawing upon Ruth Wilson Gilmore’s concept of crisis, and Clyde Woods and David Harvey’s notion of the (socio-)spatial fix, the research underscores how the New Deal attempted to address economic, political, and racial crises by implementing a series of fixes aimed at stabilizing economic markets while reshaping ecological and racial landscapes. This article reveals how the New Deal reconfigured Black geographies and ecologies, displacing communities and ecosystems in the name of progress. By scrutinizing local administrative practices and broader regional consequences, the article highlights the far-reaching impacts of state-initiated development amid crises of racial capitalism. The analysis concludes with an attention to the Green New Deal, pushing back against the fixity inherent in the original public works program, and advocating for a nuanced approach to repair in the face of environmental crises. By reassessing the historical significance of the New Deal and the missteps made in the face of early 20th-century crises, this research informs debates on socio-environmental justice and equitable development, offering guidance for navigating crises in the modern era.

Black Fathers and The Talk in Contemporary American Media

Art is often regarded as a reflection of life, with media possessing the capacity to challenge societal norms and influence social and political perspectives as reported by Höijer (Nordicom Review 32(2), 2011). Within American media, Black men are frequently vilified and stereotyped as absent or deadbeat fathers as described by Kumah-Abiwu (Journal of Men’s Studies, 28(1), 2020), Kurwa (Housing Police Debate, 30(6), 2020), Rambert (UCLA Law Review, 68(1), 2021), and Stamps (Journal of Communications, 28(4), 2017). Such portrayals perpetuate harmful narratives and reinforce the negative stereotypes of Black men as absentee parents as discussed by Caldwell, Jr. (Spectrum: A Journal on Black Men, 10(1), 2022). One cultural phenomenon that highlights the intersection of race and parenting is The Talk, a long-standing tradition in Black families, as delineated by Caldwell, Jr. (2024) and Whitaker and Snell (Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 26(3–4), 2016). Despite its prevalence, limited scholarly attention has been devoted to this practice, particularly from the perspective of Black fathers as presented by Caldwell, Jr. (2024) and Mahadevan et al. (2020). This study explores contemporary television shows and films such as Black-ish, Boyz N the Hood, and The Hate U Give as examples of media representations depicting Black fathers as present and actively engaging in The Talk with their children. This research underscores the importance of culturally responsible and positive representations of Black fathers in American television and film. These narratives not only challenge prevailing stereotypes but also affirm the critical role of Black fathers in guiding their children through life in a racially charged society.

Navigating the Challenges of Community Supports Services: A Focus Group for Black Family Caregivers

AbstractThis qualitative study highlights the challenges faced by Black family caregivers who provide personal care to dementia patients without remuneration or training. Caring for a person with dementia can be stressful and negatively impact the caregiver’s health. Black family caregivers are particularly vulnerable to stress‐related mental health issues. Community support services (CSS) such as support groups, help‐seeking, respite, and dementia training can help address these issues. CSS can also help delay or avoid institutionalization and keep the person living with dementia and their community‐dwelling caregivers safe in their homes.The study used the RaDAR method to analyze and develop themes from the focus group interviews of six participants. The focus group participants validated the hypothesis that Black caregivers are less likely to use CSS, particularly respite and support groups. Financial constraints and lack of free time were reported as the main barriers to support groups and respite use.The study concludes that CSS can help address the mental health issues of Black family caregivers. However, financial constraints and lack of free time are significant barriers to CSS use. The study recommends that CSS providers consider offering flexible and affordable services that cater to the needs of Black family caregivers. The study also recommends that policymakers consider providing financial support to CSS providers to enable them to offer affordable services to Black family caregivers.

Black Family Caregiving Experiences Among Relatives of Persons with Dementia

Black Family Caregiving Experiences Among Relatives of Persons with Dementia

Racial Trauma Unfolds: The Spectacle of Witnessing George Floyd`s Murder

Abstract In this article, we chart some of the detrimental emotional impacts of what we consider a human disaster: denying Black people’s humanity. We focus on the highly publicized and violent killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers in 2020: 9 minutes and 29 seconds of state-sanctioned, anti-Black violence that was filmed and circulated globally and has sparked the largest racial justice protest and beyond since the civil rights movements of the 1960s. We consider the impacts of viewing this footage, this spectacle, on Black people, seeing this human disaster playing out in front of their eyes through the lens of anti-Black racism (ABR), which serves as an analytic lens to theorize this trauma within the context of visceral and ubiquitous anti-Black racism. We further contextualize these links between racism and trauma by drawing from our firsthand experience, as well as the stories, worries, and feelings shared with us by Black professionals, families, and members of the community. We focus specifically on that shared by Black youth, which has primarily been the focus of our professional work. We conclude by highlighting strategies of resistance to counteract these impacts, as well as shifts to clinical practice that might better address them and structural shifts towards social justice. Keywords: Human-made disasters, mental health, trauma, anti-Black racism, resistance, resilience.