Date of Award
1-1-2024
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D. in Social Welfare
First Advisor
Younghee Lim
Second Advisor
Misa Kayama
Third Advisor
Saijun Zhang
School
University of Mississippi
Relational Format
dissertation/thesis
Abstract
African Americans seek formal mental health treatment services at lower rates than white Americans (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA], 2024) and higher risk of mental illness exists among rural African Americans (Haynes et al., 2017). Religiousness and spirituality have emerged as widely utilized coping methods among African Americans, therefore it is important to understand pastoral perspectives on mental health. In addition to the type of services being sought, the decision to seek help plays an important role in treatment utilization. Along these lines, two theoretical frameworks were used to formulate this study, the Theory of Planned Behavior and the Theory of Religious Coping. As inpatient mental health treatment becomes more limited within the state, creating collaborative care for Mississippians becomes essential. In accordance with these aims, this study explored the beliefs and experiences of African American pastors in rural Mississippi around mental health. Purposive and snowball sampling were used to recruit African American pastors over the age of 18 serving in selected Delta counties. Using a qualitative, phenomenological design, twenty-one pastors participated in semi structured interviews. Results indicated that all participants believed mental illness to be a “real” health concern. Data analysis revealed four major themes—training, mental health experiences, community resources, and suicide. Fifty-two percent of participants reported a lack of mental health training as a major concern. All participants disclosed having either personal, family, or church member experiences with mental health. Participants expressed knowledge of community resources and stated willingness to refer to formal treatment services. Suicide was a recurring theme used to describe mental health beliefs, and two participants described experiences with suicide within their congregations. The results also included participant beliefs related to stigma and the impact of COVID-19 on mental health. This study added to knowledge bases of religious coping strategies among rural African Americans and of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings also supported the need for increased mental health training and stigma reduction efforts for this population.
Recommended Citation
Adams, Angela R., "Mental Health in Rural Mississippi Counties: Experiences and Beliefs of African American Pastors" (2024). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2993.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd/2993
