Graduation Semester and Year
Fall 2024
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work
Department
Social Work
First Advisor
Dr. Eusebius Small
Second Advisor
Dr. Danielle Harrell
Third Advisor
Dr. Hui Huang
Fourth Advisor
Dr. Quenette Walton
Abstract
Black women in the United States experience high levels of lifetime trauma exposure, which significantly affects their perceived stress and coping mechanisms. The lifetime trauma experienced by Black women in the United States is a large and intricate issue shaped by numerous historical, cultural, and structural elements that affect their perceived stress and coping mechanisms. Lifetime trauma encompasses a wide range of painful events or experiences that transpire throughout an individual's life, significantly and persistently affecting their mental, emotional, and physical health (National Institute of Mental Health, 2020). These traumatic occurrences can encompass a broad range of experiences, including physical or sexual abuse, neglect, accidents, natural catastrophes, interpersonal violence, prejudice, racism, and several other adversities. Key constructs like the Superwoman Schema (SWS) may influence these effects.
The Superwoman Schema (SWS) is clearly delineated in literature, characterized by a blend of strength, resilience, and caregiving, prioritizing the needs of others while neglecting personal self-care (Woods-Giscombe, 2010). SWS is posited to facilitate essential adaptations to both historical and contemporary societal events in the context of trauma exposure (Beauboeuf-Lafontant, 2003), yet it is also regarded as a potential catalyst for adverse effects that may result in detrimental psychological outcomes when confronted with traumatic experiences (Tolman et al., 2006). Limited research has investigated the correlation among trauma exposure, coping mechanisms, and perceived stress within the SWS in a singular investigation. This study utilized intersectionality, Black feminist theory, and Africana womanism frameworks, demonstrating a clear application of theory in the study's development. It encompassed the examination of societal power dynamics among the chosen dependent and confounding variables, the formulation of the statistical analysis plan, and the presentation and interpretation of the results.
The study's results underscore the complexity of Black womanhood by correlating with literature on trauma exposure's impact on perceived stress; however, a distinctive finding concerning both coping mechanisms and the SWS emerged, emphasizing cultural strengths and resilience despite trauma's aftermath. This inquiry underscores the necessity of recognizing the cultural norms of Black femininity while also highlighting the significance of individualized evaluation of the help-seeking behaviors of Black women. This study has the potential to produce implications for research, clinical practice, and local and governmental policy formulation, aiming to enhance mental health outcomes while reducing inequities.
Keywords
Trauma, Perceived stress, Coping, Superwoman schema, Strong Black woman
Disciplines
Social Work
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Recommended Citation
Thomas, LaTisha, "Trauma Exposure’s Influence on How Black Superwomen Cope and Perceive Stress" (2024). Social Work Dissertations. 190.
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/socialwork_dissertations/190