Expanding the Psychological Wellness Threshold for Black College Women: An Examination of the Claiming Your Connections Intervention. (July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jones, Lani V.; Ahn, Suran; Chan, Keith T.
• Is Part Of: Research on social work practice. Volume 26:Number 4(2016:Jul.)
• Page Start: 399
• Page End: 411
• Publication Date: 2016-07
• Subjects: Black college women -- Black feminisms -- psychosocial competence -- group work -- practice research; Social service -- Periodicals; 361.3205
• DOI: 10.1177/1049731514549631
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1049-7315

Abstract

Objectives: This study investigated the effectiveness of a culturally congruent group intervention program entitled "Claiming Your Connections (CYC)" aimed at reducing stress and enhancing psychosocial competence (i.e., locus of control and active coping) among Black college women. Method: Using an experimental design, a total of 96 undergraduate Black college women recruited from four predominantly White institutions and one historically Black college and university were randomly assigned to either the CYC group ( n = 49) or the wait-list control group ( n = 47). The CYC group attended 10-week group intervention sessions. Repeated measures analysis of variance was used to test intervention effects for the outcome variables. Results: After the intervention, the CYC group reported a significantly greater reduction in perceived stress and external locus of control compared to the control group. Conclusions: Counseling implications and directions for the development of future culturally relevant practice interventions with this population are discussed.