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Protective Factors For African American Suicide : A Theoretical Intersection Of Social Integration And Religious Coping, Shaunna T. Evans

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This theoretical investigation discusses how religion and spirituality protects African Americans from committing suicide. Because of the seemingly low rates within the community, suicide has not been afforded the attention it deserves in research. In addition, existing literature attributes this protection to religious and spiritual behaviors but often resorts to global indices (e.g., church attendance and prayer) as determinants. What is lacking in current research is an explanation of how African Americans use their faith to discourage suicidal behavior. Due to a steady increase in Black male suicides, it is imperative that those in academia and clinicians alike begin to …

The Applicability Of William E. Cross’S Model Of Black Identity Development And Vivienne Cass’S Model Of Lesbian/Gay Identity Formation To The Experience Of Black Lesbians, Lisa Lynelle Moore

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The purpose of this research was to explore the applicability of William E. Cross' Black identity development model and Vivienne Cass' model of lesbian/ gay identity formation to the experience of Black lesbians. Through evaluating their applicability the experience of identity integration was addressed in the experience of Black lesbians whose intersections of identity may conflict within a predominately heterosexual Black community and in the visible lesbian community which is often perceived as predominately White.

Through using an interview guide comprised of ten open-ended questions developed by the researcher, sixteen women between the ages of nineteen and forty-nine participated in …