Psychology Ph.D. Dissertations
Title
Caribbean Blacks And Acculturative Stress: The Moderating Role of Religious Coping
Date of Award
2014
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Kenneth Pargament, PhD
Second Advisor
Sridevi Menon, PhD (Committee Member)
Third Advisor
Michael Zickar, PhD (Committee Member)
Fourth Advisor
Anne Gordon, PhD (Committee Member)
Abstract
Prior studies indicate that religion is very important in the lives of Caribbean Black immigrants. This study (N= 146) explored the role of religion in the process of coping and adjustment among Caribbean Blacks as they adjust to life in the United States. More specifically, this study explored the relationship among stress (including acculturative stress), religious coping, and psychological outcomes among Caribbean immigrants. The result showed that religion and spirituality remain important for Caribbean Blacks living in the United States as they were while living in the Caribbean. Religious coping (both positive and negative methods) global stress, and acculturative stress were significant predictors of psychological outcomes. Religious coping moderated the relationship between stress and depression: as expected, negative religious coping exacerbated the effects of acculturative stress on depression. However, a surprisingly similar effect was found for positive religious coping. Implications for mental health service providers as well as limitations of the study are discussed.
Recommended Citation
Superville, Devon, "Caribbean Blacks And Acculturative Stress: The Moderating Role of Religious Coping" (2014). Psychology Ph.D. Dissertations. 8.
https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/psychology_diss/8